Loudoun County is currently seeking nominations for its recently launched Heritage Register Program.
The program, developed by the Loudoun County Heritage Commission and administered by the Department of Planning and Zoning, will recognize heritage resources that are significant to Loudoun County but may be ineligible for recognition at the state and national level through the Virginia Landmarks Register and National Register of Historic Places.
The Loudoun County Heritage Register program (LCHR) is designed to highlight significant and diverse heritage resources in the county to encourage a higher level of community awareness, stewardship and preservation of those resources. Potential sites include historic structures, public and private residences, farms, churches, schools, archaeological sites, outstanding geological formations, heritage corridors, significant trees, cultural landscapes, battlefields, cemeteries and historic districts.
The register will serve as an educational tool to inform the community about the importance of Loudoun County’s history and the resources that are distinctive to the area and that can support economic development through heritage tourism.
To be considered for listing in the LCHR, a property must be at least 50 years old and meet specific criteria that demonstrate the site’s importance to Loudoun County and its natural, historical, architectural, archeological and cultural features.
Listing in the register is strictly voluntary; it is an honorary designation that would not restrict land use, impact property owner rights or require property owners to provide access to the public.
Nominations through this program can be submitted on a rolling basis; they will be reviewed by the Department of Planning and Zoning before being presented to the Heritage Commission for review and approval.
For more information about the register, including the program guidelines and a link to the nomination form, visit loudoun.gov/heritageregister.
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