Guidelines for USGS Maps & District Site Plans
US Geological Survey 7.5 Minute
Topographic Maps Are Required.
Contact the Department of Natural Resources Map Sales Section at 317/232-4180 or order online.
For All Nominations
A United States Geological Survey (USGS) 7.5 Minute Topographic Quadrangle map is required for all National Register applications. Please contact the Department of Natural Resources Map Sales Section at 317/ 232-4180 to order the appropriate map. It is essential that you use pencil to mark on the map. You will have to replace the map if it is marked in anything other than pencil, including adhesives of any kind. For a single property, either circle or place a dot locating it. For a larger parcel or historic district, mark the boundaries of the property as precisely as possible.
For Complicated Sites or Historic Districts
A site plan is a helpful when nominating a more complicated site (such as a farm with outbuildings) or historic district and may vary from simple to quite complex. The overall site plan should not be larger than 11x 17 so that it can be easily reproduced. Some of the key elements that must be included are:
- The footprint of the building(s)
- Street names and addresses
- Photo locations showing the direction the camera faces
- Boundary lines that match the Verbal Boundary Description in Section 10.
- Whether a building, site, structure, or object is contributing or non-contributing (This is most commonly indicated by shading or cross-hatching.
This is not a complete list of requirements. Please refer to How to Complete the National Register of Historic Places Registration Form for more detailed directions and additional requirements.
