National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark, a place or item whose historic significance has received official recognition from the U.S. Department of the Interior. The landmarks may be sites (Virginia City, Nevada, is an example), objects (the San Francisco cable cars), or structures (Carnegie Hall in New York City). Many landmarks are privately owned; others are municipal, state, or federal property. The owner of a landmark must agree to preserve its historical character. A register of National Historic Landmarks is maintained by the Department of the Interior.