Good news! Schaefferstown has been nominated to the U.S. Park Service’s National Register of
Historic Places. This designation recognizes the architectural, historical and cultural significance
and Pennsylvania German heritage of our great town.

The nomination, if approved, will designate a portion of Schaefferstown as a National Historic
District. The designation is honorary and it does NOT mean that any restrictions or obligations
would be placed on property owners. That’s something entirely different; restrictions on
changes to properties in a historic area would come only from the local governing body—not
the Park Service. That is not being proposed.

What it does mean is that Schaefferstown would be added to the list of the most historic places
and buildings in the U.S. That is quite an honor. In Lebanon County, only Annville and Mt.
Gretna have National Register districts.

The nomination goes before the Pennsylvania State Review Board on October 11, 2022. If
approved at that level, it will go on to the National Review Board for final consideration
sometime next year.

For more information on the National Register program see:
https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/faqs.htm or
www.phmc.pa.gov/preservation/about