Washington, DC has 562 properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the official federal list of buildings, districts, sites, structures, and objects worthy of preservation. 64 of them are recorded as National Historic Landmarks — the highest tier of federal historic recognition, reserved for places of exceptional national significance.
Use the interactive map below to explore every National Register property in Washington, DC, color-coded by resource type, with National Historic Landmarks highlighted in gold. Click any point for the property name, type, city, listing date, and a direct link to its official National Park Service record. To compare Washington, DC with the rest of the country, see the full National Register of Historic Places map.
Washington, DC Historic Places by the Numbers
- 562 total National Register listings in Washington, DC
- 486 buildings — houses, churches, schools, courthouses, theaters, and commercial buildings
- 41 objects — monuments, sculptures, and markers
- 16 structures — bridges, ships, and other engineered works
- 11 historic districts — neighborhoods, town centers, and other areas with concentrated historic character
- 8 sites — battlefields, archaeological locations, and culturally significant grounds
- 64 National Historic Landmarks — the highest tier of federal recognition
National Historic Landmarks in Washington, DC
Washington, DC has 64 National Historic Landmarks recorded on this map. They include:
- Administration Building, Carnegie Institute of Washington (Washington)
- American Federation of Labor Building (Washington)
- American National Red Cross (Washington)
- American Peace Society (Washington)
- Anderson, Larz, House (Washington)
- Andrew Rankin Memorial Chapel, Frederick Douglass Memorial Hall, Founders Library (Washington)
- Army Medical Museum (Washington)
- Arts and Industries Building (Washington)
- Arts Club of Washington (Washington)
- Ashburton House (Washington)
- Baker, Newton D., House (Washington)
- Bayly, Mountjoy, House (Washington)
Listing a Property in Washington, DC
National Register nominations for Washington, DC properties are processed by the District of Columbia Historic Preservation Office, which reviews nominations before forwarding them to the National Park Service. Listing is largely an honorary designation: it provides recognition and makes owners eligible for federal historic preservation tax incentives, but it does not by itself prevent an owner from altering or demolishing a property with private funds.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many historic places are in Washington, DC?
Washington, DC has 562 properties on the National Register of Historic Places: 486 buildings, 16 structures, 11 historic districts, 8 sites, and 41 objects.
How many National Historic Landmarks does Washington, DC have?
64 Washington, DC properties shown on this map carry the National Historic Landmark designation, the federal government’s highest level of historic recognition, reserved for places of exceptional national significance.
Does National Register listing protect a Washington, DC property?
Not directly. Listing is an honorary federal designation. It triggers a review process for federally funded or licensed projects and makes owners eligible for preservation tax incentives, but stronger protection generally comes from local landmark ordinances.
→ Explore all 72,000+ historic places on the National Register map
