Register of Historic Places

The Historic Home Register aims to preserve information regarding the Island’s variety of historic homes.

Listings in the Register are strictly honorary. The register officially recognizes the historic significance of a place, building, site, or area. We encourage, but do not require the preservation of the property or historic district.

Please note that listing in the register does not:

• prevent an owner from renovating or demolishing buildings
• require an owner to restore or renovate property
• restrict an owner’s use of the property;
• increase property values or taxes;
• regulate local governments or require the creation of a local historic preservation program. Local governments have the authority to create historic preservation ordinances and historic district overlays; these and other such efforts are locally controlled and do not involve the Museum of Chincoteague Island, and are not a part of the Register process.

Properties may be nominated for listing in the Register if they have achieved historical significance of at least 50 years prior to today and/or are of exceptional importance. Places may also be nominated for listing if they are associated with an important event or historic trend or a significant person whose specific contributions to history can be identified and documented. Additionally historic places may feature an important architectural or engineering design. This is especially the case in instances where the place represents the work of a master or is a distinguishable entity although its components may lack individual distinction. Historic places may have the potential to answer important research questions about human history and must retain enough physical integrity through retention of historic materials, appearance, design, and other physical features.