National Park Service Approves CHAD National Register Nomination for Town of Milton

On July 21, 2022 the National Park Service approved the Center for Historic Architecture and Design’s amended nomination to the National Register of Historic Places for the Town of Milton in Sussex County, Delaware. Milton was founded in 1763, and until the late nineteenth century was known for its shipbuilding industry, maritime connections, and milling and other local industries. Many of its wooden dwellings were built in the Federal, Gothic Revival, Greek Revival, Italianate, and Queen Anne styles; these are intermixed with early twentieth century architectural styles and vernacular dwellings characteristic of Delaware. The Town of Milton was originally listed to the National Register in 1982; CHAD’s comprehensive update nomination expands the period of significance from 1763 to 1962 and expands the boundary and number of properties comprising the Historic District. 

The research involved in preparing the amended nomination included a cultural resource survey of 36 new properties and a resurvey of all previously listed properties to assemble revised statistics on 233 properties. CHAD also developed an enhanced historic context for the District and assessed the acreage of the District boundary (now measured at 76.4 acres) using current land assessment records. National Register nominations such as this must first be approved by the Delaware State Historic Preservation Office and then by the National Park Service.​​