Last month’s Technical Tip explained the differences between types of landmarks: NYC Landmarks, buildings listed in the National Register of Historic Places, and buildings eligible for listing on the National Register. Now that you have that information, you’ll likely want to look up specific buildings. Fortunately, government agencies have made this information publicly available via online maps.
New York State’s Historic Preservation Office has a resource known as the Cultural Resource Information System (CRIS). It shows buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places, buildings that have been determined eligible for listing in the National Register, and other information related to historic resources. It even has a map layer that shows local New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission designations. Anyone can use it as a guest; you do not need to create an account. If you need help using CRIS, there is a useful guide here.
The Landmarks Preservation Commission has their own map of buildings and historic districts that it has designated as landmarks. Clicking on a dot will reveal historic information about that building, like the year of construction and the architect. Some buildings even have photographs you can view from the time that the building was designated as a landmark.
Have fun exploring the City we love!