riverfront buidings in Elkader Iowa

Iowa Historic Property Inventory Database

Search for information on architectural and historical resources around Iowa, including National Register of Historic Places properties, individual site inventory forms, and survey reports.

National Register of Historic Places

Iowa has more than 2,000 nominations listed on the National Register of Historic Places, totaling more than 15,000 individual buildings, structures, sites and objects.

Red Covered Bridge
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Preserving a Local Legacy

For small communities like Mount Vernon, there’s a special value in preserving a local legacy. Bauman's, a shop open since 1909, went up for sale in 2018. And a local couple knew it was worth a shot.

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Portrait of the entire Randall family in front of the Bauman's building on the left
Events

Education and Outreach

The SHPO provides education to Iowans across the state, including the annual Preserve Iowa Summit, workshops, webinars, and technical assistance regarding architectural preservation and history.

street view of historic buildings in a downtown area
Contact

State Historic Preservation Office

Get in touch with Iowa’s State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) for help with archaeology, historic buildings, property research, National Register listings, and preservation programs..