Register of Culturally Significant Property

The Register of Culturally Significant Property is the US State Department’s register of properties around the world, owned or leased by the State Department, that have particular cultural or historical significance.

The State Department owns or has under long-term lease over 3500 properties at 265 posts worldwide. Among these are approximately 150 properties that are historically, architecturally, or culturally significant. Building types include chanceries, residences, office buildings, staff apartments, a gardener’s house, and a guesthouse. The Department also has a significant collection of fine and decorative arts in its inventory.

These seven criteria were used to evaluate properties for listing by the Secretary of State in the register:
*Designation or acknowledgement by a government as a significant property
*Part of the United States’ overseas heritage
*Association with a significant historical event or person
*Important architecture and/or by an important architect
*Distinctive theme or assembly
*Unique object or visual feature
*Archaeological site

The Secretary’s Register is similar to the National Register of Historic Places maintained by the Secretary of the Interior. The Register is an important initiative to commemorate the significant international heritage of the United States and to promote and preserve American history and architecture.

Culturally Significant Places

The following is a list of significant buildings currently listed in the Register’s online brochure. Many of these are currently used as the embassy or residence of the United States Ambassador to their respective countries.

*Chancery of the Embassy of the United States in Manila, Manila
*Winfield House, London
*Schoenborn Palace, Prague
*Palazzo Margherita and Twin Villas, Rome
*Seoul Old American Legation, Seoul
*Hôtel de Talleyrand, Paris
*Tangier Old Legation, Tangier
*Ambassador’s Residence, Tokyo
*Palacio Bosch, Buenos Aires
*Ambassador’s Residence, Hanoi
*Villa Otium, Oslo
*New Delhi Chancery, New Delhi
*Tirana Embassy, Tirana
* American Center, Alexandria
* Athens Chancery, Athens
* Truman Hall, Brussels
* Byne House, Madrid

ource

* [http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/66242.pdf US Department of State brochure on Culturally Significant Property] (PDF)