54 U.S.C. § 302102 — Inclusion of properties on National Register

(a) In general. If a property meets the criteria for National Historic Landmarks set under section 302103 of this title, it must be designated a National Historic Landmark and put on the National Register^*. This is subject to the requirements in section 302107 of this title.

(b) Historic property^* on National Register on December 12, 1980. Any historic property that was already on the National Register on December 12, 1980, is treated as having been on the Register since the date it was first listed, for purposes of this division.

(c) Historic property listed in the Federal Register on February 6, 1979, or before December 12, 1980, as National Historic Landmarks. Congress has declared that any historic property listed in the Federal Register on February 6, 1979, or listed as a National Historic Landmark before December 12, 1980, counts as a National Historic Landmark of national historic significance, as of the date it was first listed. This applies for purposes of this division and chapter 3201 of this title. There's one exception: if a National Historic Landmark district had no established boundaries as of December 12, 1980, its boundaries must be published in the Federal Register first.