Historic Buildings & Structures
Building: A building, such as a house, barn, church, hotel, or similar construction, is created principally to shelter any form of human activity. “Building” may also be used to refer to a historically and functionally related unit, such as a courthouse and jail or a house and barn.
Examples include: church, city or town hall, courthouse, fort, garage, hotel, house, library, office building, school, stable, store, theater, detached kitchen, barn
Structure: The term “structure” is used to distinguish from buildings those functional constructions made usually for purposes other than creating human shelter.
Examples include: bridges, tunnels, fire towers, canals, damns, silos, roadways, mounds, cairns, earthworks, railroad grades, systems of roadways and paths, boats and ships, railroad locomotives and cars, telescopes, bandstands, gazebos and aircraft
Click on the dropdown menu below each of the photos to view useful links and information related to each type of building/structure.
Residential
View Residential Links
Exterior Features
- NPS Preservation Brief 17: Architectural Character—Identifying the Visual Aspects of Historic Buildings as an Aid to Preserving their Character
- Interpreting the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation #9: Inappropriate Porch Alterations
- Modifying Historic Interior Railings to Meet Building Code, ITS No. 46
Exterior Materials
- NPS Preservation Brief 17: Architectural Character—Identifying the Visual Aspects of Historic Buildings as an Aid to Preserving their Character
- Interpreting the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation #9: Inappropriate Porch Alterations
- Modifying Historic Interior Railings to Meet Building Code, ITS No. 46
Historic Sacred Places
View Historic Sacred Places Links
“Religious buildings play a fundamental role in their communities: they define our local history, are an important source of our artistic patrimony and provide vital space for many local social services, in addition to their religious impacts.”
Preserving Historic Religious Properties: A Toolkit for Congregations & Community Leaders
- Preserving Historic Religious Properties: A Toolkit for Congregations & Community Leaders (from the National Trust for Historic Preservation)
- Interpreting the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation: Preserving Historic Church Interiors (from the National Park Service)
- Preservation Brief 33: The Preservation and Repair of Historic Stained and Leaded Glass (from the National Park Service)
- Rural Churches of Missouri: A Study of Architectural Types from 1819 to 1945 (from the State Historic Preservation Office)
- NEW Transitioning Older and Historic Sacred Places (from Partners for Sacred Places)
Organizations that Assist with Preservation of Religious Structures
Barns
View Barn Links
- Preservation Brief 20: The Preservation of Historic Barns
- Introduction to Federal Tax Credits for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings: Barns
- Preservation Brief 39: Holding the Line: Controlling Unwanted Moisture in Historic Buildings
Below is a list of other barn-related preservation organizations across the country.
Schools, Institutional & Industrial Buildings
View Schools, Institutional & Industrial Building Links
Commercial Buildings (Main Street)
View Commercial Building Links
With a strong emphasis being placed on the revival of our historic downtowns, it is important to be aware of the resources available to those wishing to rehab or restore historic commercial structures.
View Anatomy of a Main Street Building
Useful Links
- Rehabilitation and Adaptive Use of Schools, ITS No. 12
- Converting Historic School Buildings for Residential Use, ITS No. 20
- Subdividing Assembly Spaces in Historic Buildings
- Retaining Industrial Character in Historic Buildings, ITS No. 55
For specific assistance with downtown commercial buildings and the revitalization of your downtown community, consider checking out Missouri Main Street Connection!