# History Pointer — National Historic Register map

> Portable map of US National Register of Historic Places with AR navigation. (iPhone/iPad app by Mobile Geographics.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/history-pointer/id463895470 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Mobile Geographics](https://appshunter.io/developer/286844996)
- Category: Education, Travel
- Price: $4.99
- Rating: 3.50/5 from 32 App Store ratings · 17 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 17.0 · 168 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2011-09-14
- Data updated: 2026-07-27
- Monetization: paid
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/history-pointer/id463895470/reviews.md

## What is History Pointer?

History Pointer is your portable copy of the US National Register of Historic Places, over 100,000 sites, buildings, battlefields, vessels, and historic districts of significance in the United States and territories. 

Find the sites near you or along your next road trip. Don't miss a detour. Map gives you your choice of Apple maps, USGS topographic maps, or NOAA nautical charts. Wikipedia text excerpts and links are included. Augmented Reality view identifies what's nearby, and shows the way to spots far afield.

Every history buff needs this app.

History Pointer's data comes from the US National Register of Historic Places, which is "the official list of the nation's historic places worthy of preservation." The register is maintained by the National Park Service. For more information about the criteria for inclusion on the National Register. see https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/index.htm.

## Key features

- National Register of Historic Places database
- Location-based site discovery
- Road trip planning
- Multiple map views (Apple, USGS, NOAA)
- Wikipedia excerpts and links
- Augmented Reality (AR) identification and navigation

## Recent user reviews (10 of 17)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/history-pointer/id463895470/reviews.md

### 4/5 — Nice app

*2024-07-08*

Neat idea for history buffs, tour guides, etc. Could use a couple of interface tweaks. 1) Tapping on a place only brings up that place’s name and an info symbol which you then tap to see the page for that site, so why should the user have to tap twice to get to the info page? Unless most landmarks have more than just the info button in the first interface, tapping once should just bring up the info page directly. 2) Could also use an in-app browser so the user doesn’t have to keep switching back and forth between apps. Using the Safari API for this should make it simple to add an in-app browser. 3) Easy to miss the “>” for the Wiki section, so it might be better near the top of the section. 4) Wiki links should use the in-app browser or, if the Wiki app is installed, the user could tap a button to be transferred to the Wiki app. 5) Some of the USGS maps blank out at high magnification, which is confusing, so the map should automatically zoom out in those cases (and preferably not zoom in beyond the USGS resolution when displaying USGS maps, to avoid the blanking issue)

### 1/5 — Absolute nightmare

*2024-07-08, version 2.4*

If you have iphone 13 do not install absolute nightmare slow,stutter ,gliches ,crashing. App needs tons of works ,improvements, optimisation. Absolute horrid

### 5/5 — Great for exploring our city!

*2024-07-05*

There’s a lot of historic locations around me that I didn’t even know about! I love how it gives you an arial view and also allows you to find it with augmented reality! It’s also great that each entry has a wiki description as well as easy access by clicking to view even more information. Love this app and can’t wait to explore my city with the family!

If there is anything I’d like to add, it would be a way to filter location a on the map by date. Otherwise awesome app with lots of features

### 1/5 — Clunky, keeps freezing, amateurish.

*2019-07-08, version 2.1*

Was looking forward to this, how disappointed I am.

Ironically for a history app, it’s like turning the clock back on computers fifteen years. 

The interface is laggy, takes time to even show simple information.

Even for free it is not worth my time. 

Perhaps someone will like it, but I’d recommend not wasting your money. Way overpriced, when not free, and not worth the time, when it is free. 

Sorry.

### 1/5 — Terrible update

*2019-07-08*

This new version is so difficult to use. Attempting to find something on the map is nearly impossible. Please go back to the way it was. I would have given a 5 star rating on the earlier version. This version is useless.

**Developer response:** Please take a look at version 2.3, and let me know if you still have concerns.

### 3/5 — Not bad, but...

*2019-07-07*

I see History Pointer was updated several weeks ago; however, they left out one thing:  ability to link to Wikipedia to actually read some info about the places!  I can scroll (not easily) around the map to find places nearby.  I can click on the pin and see a map view, but that’s it.  I would say it’s still not worth paying anything for (got it for free) in this stage.  Developers:  nice try but please let us click on the “i” and go straight to the Wiki article.

### 1/5 — Not that great

*2019-07-06*

For one thing, several of the names of historic sites are wrong, and then their locations are so far off it beggars belief.

**Developer response:** Please report the errors to support@mobilegeographics.com. Many of the locations are wrong in the original National Park Service database (which we update using Wikipedia and other sources). Names are as listed in the original National Park Service documentation, and may have changed in the intervening years (ships, in particular, are prone to this). If you know of an updated location, you can edit that site's Wikipedia article to reflect that, and HistoryPointer will pick up that change.

### 2/5 — Okay

*2019-07-06*

- Things will appear on the map, and will disappear if you zoom in. They will not reappear when you zoom back out. 
- There doesn’t seem to be a great deal of information regarding a historic site.

### 5/5 — No issues here

*2019-07-06*

I haven’t had a single issue others have mentioned. Yes, there’s information from Wikipedia for many of here sites but that gives you some quick, basic information. Overhead photo is the default, yet easy to switch to Google or Apple maps, Google street view, etc. Great app to find places to visit on a trip or hidden gems in your hometown!

### 1/5 — HistoryPointer

*2019-07-06*

I now know why it was free. A very big disappointment. Don’t waste your time with download.

**Developer response:** Please take a look at version 2.3. If you have specific complaints, please let me know.

## Frequently asked questions about History Pointer

### What is History Pointer?

History Pointer is a mobile application that provides a portable map of over 100,000 sites listed on the US National Register of Historic Places. It helps users discover and navigate to historic locations.

### How much does History Pointer cost?

History Pointer is a paid application, available for $4.99. There are no in-app purchases or subscriptions mentioned.

### What devices support History Pointer?

History Pointer is supported on iPhones and iPads. It is suitable for users aged 4 and above.

### How often is History Pointer updated?

The latest version of History Pointer is 2.4.3, last updated on February 25, 2026. This indicates a history of regular updates to maintain the app's functionality and data.

### What map options are available in History Pointer?

History Pointer offers users a choice of map views, including Apple Maps, USGS topographic maps, and NOAA nautical charts, providing flexibility for different exploration needs.

### Does History Pointer have ads?

No, History Pointer does not contain advertisements. The app is ad-free, offering an uninterrupted user experience.

### What kind of historical information does History Pointer provide?

History Pointer includes Wikipedia text excerpts and links for each historic site, offering users more context and details about the significance of the locations they discover.

### How does the Augmented Reality feature work in History Pointer?

The Augmented Reality view in History Pointer helps identify historic sites that are nearby and can also guide users towards destinations that are further away, enhancing the discovery experience.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 2.4.3 — 2026-02-25

Database updated with National Register of Historic Places changes through February 5, 2026.

### 2.4.2 — 2025-08-06

Database now includes cultural resources added to the National Register of Historic Places through July, 2025.

### 2.4.1 — 2025-07-15

Database updated through June, 2025.

### 2.4 — 2024-06-28

Update the look a bit, especially for visionOS.

### 2.3.5 — 2021-03-11

Updated database with properties added to the National Register of Historic Places through February 25, 2021..

## Apps similar to History Pointer

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| --- | --- | --- | --- |
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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-07-27.*