WHAT IS THE HISTORIC BUILT ENVIRONMENT?
In addition to its ships, submarines and aircraft, the Navy maintains a significant shore establishment to support its mission. Of the many thousands of buildings and structures owned by the Navy, approximately 20,000 are more than 50 years old, and nearly 4,000 of those are listed in the National Register of Historic Places. These historic buildings and structures, collectively referred to as the "historic built environment," serve as tangible reminders of the Navy's history and comprise one of the five categories of resources addressed by the Department of the Navy's Cultural Resources Program.
According to the definition provided in National Register Bulletin 16A; How to Complete the National Register Registration Form, a building is a construction "...created principally to shelter any form of human activity." Historic naval buildings vary greatly in terms of building type, architectural style and age. The oldest example of a building under naval stewardship is a small brick residence known as "Kiskiack" or the "Lee House." Located on the Yorktown Naval Weapons Station in Virginia, this building may have been constructed as early as 1652 and is an excellent example of the "Post-medieval English" style.