There is no official National Register plaque — the National Park Service does not issue one — so the plaque on a listed building is whatever its owner chooses to cast. Most use the long-standing wording, “This property has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior,” with the property’s name, the year it was built, and the year it was listed. We have taken that convention and built six layouts around it, so you are choosing a proven design rather than starting from a blank bronze.

How to order a National Register of Historic Places plaque

Pick the design style that suits your building and the amount you want to say, then enter the height and width. The size shown with each style is where the layout looks best, but every one of them scales — a horizontal layout works at 12 × 8 or 24 × 16. Enter your property name, dates and any history line in the text box, choose a mounting method for your wall, and add to cart. We lay your wording into the design and email a proof within a few business days; nothing is cast until you approve it.

All six are cast bronze with raised lettering, brushed to a satin finish against a dark oxidized, leatherette-textured background, with a single or double raised border. If your state preservation office publishes suggested plaque wording, send it and we will use it. For a historic district, the sixth layout carries the “contributing building” language and a short description of the district.

Seals, emblems and sizes

The “Horizontal with Seal” layout reserves a circle for a town, state, or organization seal. Send us the artwork and we cast it in relief at no extra charge for a simple line seal; detailed seals and sculpted emblems are quoted. Any style can carry a seal above the title if you prefer. Common sizes for register plaques run from 8 × 10 for a residence to 18 × 12 or larger for a public building or district marker; the price updates as you enter dimensions.

Listed on a state register instead? New Hampshire properties can order our stock NH State Register medallion. For post-mounted markers that tell a site’s story, see our historical markers.