We're proud of our history, and we value our distinctive architectural and cultural resources. Albany's National Register of Historic Districts possesses a significant concentration of buildings in a small geographic area like no other in the state of Oregon. These buildings represent a variety of architectural styles, craftsmanship, and development patterns that helped shape our city and make it what it is today.
Albany's National Register Historic Districts
Although scattered throughout the city, our architectural inventory is for the most part concentrated in three National Register Historic Districts - the Monteith, Hackleman, and Downtown Commercial. Two were named for the families who joined the Oregon Trail in the 1840's, and all three hug the Willamette River, the heartbeat of our city. A portion of the Albany Municipal Airport is also a National Register Historic District. The National Register is the official list of our nation's significant districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects determined by the Secretary of the Interior to be worthy of preservation.
Do you reside in one of Albany's National Register Historic Districts?
Three ratings are used to classify properties within the districts:
Historic Contributing
Properties that retain and exhibit sufficient integrity (materials, design, and setting) to convey a sense of history. These properties strengthen the historic character of the district.
Historic Non-contributing
Properties that retain but do not exhibit sufficient historic features to convey a sense of history. These properties do not strengthen the historic character of the district in their current condition.
Non-contributing
Properties from outside the period of significance, and properties that do not retain sufficient historic integrity to convey a sense of history. These properties do not strengthen the historic character of the district.
Landmarks Commission
In 1985, the City of Albany passed an ordinance requiring all designated historic buildings within the historic districts and those included on the City's official landmark inventory to go through a review process for exterior alterations, additions, and demolition.
Review is by planning staff or the Landmarks Commission. New construction within historic districts also requires review.
The purpose for reviewing alterations is to encourage the preservation of characteristics, repairing rather than replacing, and when replacement is necessary, using materials that match the original material in composition, design, and texture.
- Landmarks Commission page
- Historic District Overlay Ordinance Article 7 (81K pdf)
- Historic property alteration applications are available on the Forms and Checklists page or in-person at City Hall in the Community Development Department.
