WASHINGTON: The Nevada State Historic Preservation Office and the National Park Service are sponsoring a two-day workshop on the National Register of Historic Places and the National Historic Landmarks Program. The workshop is September 28-29, 2010, at the Comstock History Center in Virginia City, Nev., which saw the largest gold strike in the northern Rocky Mountains. The workshop is intended for historic preservation professionals from states, tribes, the federal government, and certified local governments.

The workshop will emphasize archeological sites and traditional cultural places, although topics related to other types of properties will also be discussed. Ronald M. James, state historic preservation officer of Nevada and member of the National Park System Advisory Board, and his staff will host the workshop. Presenters include J. Paul Loether, the National Park Service’s chief of the National Register of Historic Places and the National Historic Landmarks Program, and his associates.

“Workshops like this one provide opportunities to work closely with our historic preservation partners at all levels of government as we administer the National Register of Historic Places and the National Historic Landmarks Program,” said Stephanie Toothman, associate director for Cultural Resources for the National Park Service. “For us all to do our best work, we need to put our heads together to evaluate challenging types of historic properties, like landscapes, archeological sites, and traditional cultural places.”

The cost of the September workshop is $15 for one day or $25 for both days. Payment should be submitted with a registration form, which may be found by visiting http://www.nps.gov/history/nr, scrolling down to the information about the workshop, and clicking “Read announcement.” Those interested in attending should register by September 1.

Additional workshops are scheduled for October 2010 in Castleton, Vt., and Austin, Texas, and for November 2010 in Jefferson City, Mo. To learn more, please see the illustrated news item about workshops at http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/feature/index.htm

Established with the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Register of Historic Places provides official recognition for historic places of national, state, and local significance. The National Historic Landmarks Program, established under the authority of the Historic Sites Act of 1935, provides recognition for historic places of national significance. Both forms of recognition provide access to financial incentives at all levels of government and protections in federal planning. The National Park Service administers the National Register, manages the National Historic Landmarks Program, and supports historic preservation in a variety of other ways.