Teton Historic Preservation Board launches “moved buildings” register rubric

Teton County’s Historic Preservation Board told county commissioners on April 13 that it is using a $10,000 Certified Local Government (CLG) grant to contract with Turn Stone Research to produce a “Moved Buildings Context Paper” — guidance intended to help relocated historic structures qualify for National Register of Historic Places recognition. The board said the National Register’s typical preference for buildings remaining on their original site can be a mismatch for Western settlement patterns, where moving structures has been common locally.

According to the board’s staff report, the project is expected to (1) define why relocated buildings can still be historically significant in Teton County, (2) create an objective evaluation rubric for moved structures, and (3) provide more consistent guidance for future National Register nominations. The report also says the work will include GIS integration so the county can track relocated historic buildings over time. Teton County Historic Preservation Board Staff Report

The board framed the public benefit as reducing the need for case-by-case justification in nominations, simplifying the process for property owners seeking designation, and potentially expanding access to preservation grants and federal tax incentives that require National Register listing. Teton County Historic Preservation Board Staff Report