The Mechanicsburg Commercial Historic District: A Case Study of The National Register Amendment Process & Analysis

Abstract

The Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office approved the Mechanicsburg Commercial Historic District, located in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, for listing on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. According to the nomination, the historic district consists of 102 buildings with a suggested period of significance beginning in 1800 and continuing through the present. The entire document is eight pages long with half dedicated to the physical description and historic narrative of the district. In my prior research, I looked into the Black history of Mechanicsburg and identified it as a crucial area missing from this National Register form. For this project, I will research the underrepresented histories of people who made significant contributions within this historic district and amend the record, which will be reviewed by Pennsylvania’s Historic Preservation Board and the National Park Service. In addition to the National Register amendment, I will write an analysis of the National Register amendment process, the difficulties therein, and potential areas for improvement.