Online Help System

Overview

Welcome to the online help system for the New York State Cultural Resource Information System (CRIS). CRIS is a GIS (Geographic Information System)–based web application that provides access to the historic property information maintained by the New York State Division for Historic Preservation, also known as the New York State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). The system includes digital images of more than two million pages of National Register documents, building and archaeological inventory forms, survey reports, and a wide variety of additional legacy data. Most of these records are also depicted on maps throughout the system, allowing you to browse through historic properties anywhere in New York State.

In addition to providing a repository for information about historic properties and archaeological resources, CRIS serves as an interactive portal for agencies, municipalities, and others who use historic preservation programs such as the State and Federal Income Tax Credits for Historic Properties, the New York State Register and National Register of Historic Places, the Section 14.09 (New York State Historic Preservation Act) and Section 106 (National Historic Preservation Act) environmental review processes, the Certified Local Government Program, and building and archaeological survey initiatives.

CRIS can be utilized in many ways, but the two primary uses are:

• Searching the database for information on historic buildings, structures, and sites (identified by Unique Site Numbers, or USNs), architectural and archaeological surveys, and National Register listings.
• Submitting projects to SHPO for review and feedback.

This help system is arranged into the following primary topics:

• Frequently Asked Questions: The most common questions received by CRIS Help.
• Sign into CRIS: Instructions for entering CRIS as a guest or authenticated user.
• Home Page: The Home pages for guest and authenticated users.
• Submit Page: Tools for submitting a new project to SHPO, sending additional information for an existing project, or managing an initial project submission.
• Search Page: Tools for searching various record types in the CRIS database using text or the map.
• Communicate Page: Tools for viewing and responding to project correspondence from SHPO.
• Map Interface: The map display and tools used throughout CRIS.
• Details Modules: Windows that display information about records in the CRIS database.
• Resource Wizards: Submission tools that launch when you complete a SHPO request for updates to existing building, site, or district records in CRIS.

The navigation panel in this help system features the topics arranged hierarchically, as indicated by three icons:

	The stack icon represents a collapsed topic group. Click the icon to expand the group.
	The book icon represents an expanded topic group. Click the icon to collapse the group.
	The page icon represents an end-level topic, with no further topics under it. Click the icon to open the topic page.

In all cases, you can open a topic page by clicking the topic’s title in the navigation panel.

If you have any questions that are not addressed in this help system, please send them to CRISHelp@parks.ny.gov or call the SHPO switchboard at 518-268-2213 and ask for CRIS Help.