Historic Listings and Designations

Local Historic Districts

A Local Historic District is established locally through town meeting or city council vote. It provides a review process for specified changes to exterior architectural features visible from a public way, provided in Gloucester by the Historic District Commission. Local historic districts have three major purposes as stated in Mass. General Law, Chapter 40C: to preserve and protect the distinctive characteristics of buildings and places significant in the history of the Commonwealth and its cities and towns; to maintain and improve the settings of those buildings and places; to encourage new designs compatible with existing buildings in the district. The overarching benefit of a local historic district is the protection of significant buildings from demolition and inappropriate alteration. There is one Local Historic District in Plymouth.

Listings on the National Register of Historic Places

The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation's historic places worthy of preservation. National Register listings in no way limit the owner’s use of the property, and places absolutely no restrictions or conditions on changes made by a private property owner unless there is state or federal involvement in a project, or unless some other regional and/or local regulation is in effect. Nominations to the National Register are usually initiated by a property owner or by the local historical commission, and do not require any local government approval. Property owners have the right to object to listing on the National Register; a district will not be listed if the majority of owners formally object. There are 20 National Register listings in Plymouth.
  • Bartlett–Russell–Hedge House
  • Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church and Parsonage
  • Burial Hill Cemetery
  • Clifford–Warren House
  • Duxbury Pier Light (Bug Light)
  • First Parish Church of Plymouth
  • Harlow Old Fort House
  • Hillside
  • Jabez Howland House
  • Mayflower II
  • National Monument to the Forefathers
  • Old County Courthouse (1749 Courthouse)
  • Pilgrim Hall Museum
  • Pinewoods Camp
  • Plymouth Antiquarian House
  • Plymouth Light Station (Gurnet Light)
  • Plymouth Post Office Building
  • Plymouth Rock
  • Richard Sparrow House
  • Sgt. William Harlow Family Homestead

National Historic Landmarks

The National Historic Landmarks Program is a federal designation program. The over 2,600 NHLs found in the U.S. today come in many forms: historic buildings, sites, structures, objects, and districts. Designation as a National Historic Landmark preserves the stories of nationally important historic events, places, and people for all Americans; helps to protect the historic character of the property from any federal action; might facilitate eligibility for grants, tax credits, and other opportunities to maintain its historic character. There is one National Historic Landmark in Plymouth.
  • Cole's Hill

National Register Districts

National Register District is part of the National Register of Historic Places; the list of individual buildings, sites, structures, objects, and districts significant in our nation’s history, culture, architecture or archaeology. It’s a federal designation administered through the Secretary of the Interior through the Mass. Historical Commission as the State Historic Preservation Office. A listing does not limit an owner's handling of the property when it does not involve state or federal funding, licensing, or permitting, or when it is not part of a local historic district. There are 4 National Register Districts in Plymouth.
  • Bradford–Union Street Historic District
  • Parting Ways Archeological District
  • Plymouth Village Historic District
  • Town Brook Historic and Archeological District

MACRIS (Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System) Listings


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