National Register of Historic Places

• Events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history
• The lives of significant persons in our past
• Embody the distinctive characteristics of an architectural type, period, or method of construction
• Have yielded or may be likely to yield, information important in history or prehistory

Historic documentation must be provided to support a claim of a property’s significance. It has to go beyond being loosely associated with or having existed at the time of the historic event or person.

• Location: has the property been moved from its historic location?
• Design: has to overall appearance/layout been significantly altered?
• Setting: is the area surrounding the property much as it was historically?
• Materials: have much of the historic fabric been replaced with non-historic material?
• Workmanship: is the care and craftsmanship of the historic period still evident?
• Feeling: does the property provide a sense of the historic time period?
• Association: does the property maintain a direct link with its recommended significance?

Fill out and submit a Preliminary Evaluation Form. History Nebraska staff will review and contact you regarding the eligibility of your property. If eligible, the preparation of a National Register of Historic Places nomination form can begin to:

• Download and prepare the Nomination Form
• Instructions for completing the form can be found in National Register Bulletin 16a
• Extensive historical research and documentation are required to sufficiently demonstrate that a property is eligible for listing in the National Register. These resources can help:
1. National Register Bulletin 39: Researching a Historic Property
2. Researching Your Nebraska Property

History Nebraska is here to help you prepare your nomination by providing professional guidance on the historical and architectural aspects of the property, verifying the nomination is properly documented to demonstrate its significance, and ensuring that it is prepared properly and meets the National Park Service requirements.

Nominations are presented to the Nebraska State Historic Preservation Board. The Board meets three times per year: January, May, and September. Pay close attention to dates and deadlines for each Board meeting. Properties within a Certified Local Government (CLG) will need to be presented to the CLG’s Historic Preservation Commission before going before the State Board.

Nominations approved by the Nebraska State Historic Preservation Board are then forwarded to the National Park Service for final review and listing in the National Register.

Please keep in mind that the nomination of private property requires the consent of a majority of its current property owners

The tower is in excellent condition and is a classic example of a “tin-man” type elevated tower. These “tin-man” water towers were once standard across rural Nebraska communities, but are quickly disappearing as new technologies take hold. Even though the tower was retired as a water delivery system in 2018, the residents of Oshkosh banded together to save this landmark. According to the Tin Man from the Wizard of Oz, “A heart is not judged by how much you love; but how much you are loved by others”—this is certainly true of Oshkosh’s very-own “tin-man.”