In 1966 law was passed that acknowledged the importance of protecting our nations heritage against rampant development. It was the triumph of more than a century of struggle by a grassroots movement of committed preservationists.
The Act:
- Sets the federal policy for preserving our nation's heritage
- Establishes a federal-state and federal-tribal partnership
- Establishes the National Register of Historic Places and National Historic Landmarks Programs
- Mandates the selection of qualified State Historic Preservation Officers
- Establishes the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation
- Charges Federal Agencies with responsible stewardship
- Establishes the role of Certified Local Governments within the States.
- Section 2:
Sets the federal policy for historic preservation - Section 106:
Requires federal agencies to take into account the effects of its actions on historic properties by
identifying historic properties, assessing adverse effects and resolving those adverse effects. The
process is initiated by the federal agency, and includes comment and input from stakeholders at the local
and State levels, as well as the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. For more about Section 106, click here - Section 108:
Authorizes the Historic Preservation Fund - Section 110:
Requires federal agencies to create historic preservation programs, designate a historic preservation
officer and provide a process for nominating properties to the National Register.Additionally, while the National Historic Preservation Act sets federal policy for historic preservation, the actual regulations can be found in 36 CFR (Code of Federal Regulations) Part 800 "Protection of Historic Properties. This provides guidelines on how to follow the policy set forth in the National Historic Preservation Act.
The Historic Preservation Act (abridged)
SHPOs Federal mandate (as set forth in NHPA Section 101b)
Every State and U.S. Territory has a State Historic Preservation Officer who, with the support of qualified staff, are charged with:
- Conducting a comprehensive survey of historic properties
- Maintaining an inventory of historic properties
- Administering state programs of Federal assistance
- Identifying and nominating eligible properties to the National Historic Register
- Advising and assisting Federal, State and local governments in matters of historic preservation
- Preparing and implementing a statewide historic preservation plan
- Providing public information, education, training and technical assistance
- Working with local governments in the development of local historic preservation programs and help them become "certified local governments"
- Provide consultation for Federal undertakings under the Section 106 provision of the National Historic Preservation Act
SHPOs role in state government
In addition to their roles within the Federal historic preservation program, SHPOs also function within their own state governments. In this capacity, their duties include (but are not limited to):
- Promoting historic preservation efforts within state government
- Coordinating with tribal governments on historic preservation matters
- Maintaining and managing historic house museums and historic sites
- Coordinating state heritage tourism efforts
- Holding and enforcing historic preservation easements
- Managing State Rehabilitation Tax Credit programs
- Maintaining state granting programs
- Supporting Main Street communities and revitalization efforts
- Providing consultation for State undertakings, similar to the Section 106 provision of the National Historic Preservation Act
State By State Index of SHPO projects
The scope of work done by State Historic Preservation Officers can be seen in the variety of projects that they do. Whether by Historic Tax Credits, technical or financial assistance, or Section 106 mitigations, below are examples of preservation success stories from around the country, using resources provided by the SHPO.
A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H-I-J-K-L-M-N-O-P-Q-R-S-T-U-V-W-X-Y-Z
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photo credit: Main Street Arkansas
Main Street: North Little Rock
The back wall of this downtown building collapsed, and the building was threatened with demolition. Through enforcement of the local historic district ordinance, the wall was replaced. Now it houses the finest Italian restaurant in the city and has been a key to the revitalization of the downtown.
Calfornia | Colorado | Connecticut |
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Hillview Apartments: Los Angeles
This project is a certified (2007) tax project in Hollywood, CA. It survived several demolition threats and was damaged by the 1994 Northridge Earthquake, subway construction (Red-Line down Hollywood Blvd.), and a disastrous fire.
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Old State House: Dover
The most recent restoration of The Old State House took place between September, 2004 and October, 2007. Funding for the $3.5 million restoration was provided by appropriations from the Delaware General Assembly. Restoration activities included re-pointing of exterior walls, replacement of exterior windows and doors, replacement of the roof, plaster wall repairs, floor restoration, re-painting of the building's interior based on research of historic color schemes, upgrades to the electrical and plumbing systems, installation of a new HVAC system, installation of equipment that makes the building fully accessible to people with disabilities, and installation of a fire suppression system. (courtesy of http://history.delaware.gov/statehouse_reopen.shtml)
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Atlas Theater: Washington
In 2007, the Atlas Theater won the AIA Award for Merit in Historic Resources and the AIA Catalyst Award. The restoration and adaptive reuse project seamlessly incorporates the 1938 theater with four adjacent retail storefronts to create an integrated new space that houses a fixed-seat theater, a black box theater, two lab theaters, control rooms for lighting and sound, three dance studios, a production shop and administrative spaces. The project acts as a catalyst for the revival of the H Street corridor, which is now known as the Atlas Arts district, and is a community gathering place and a haven for students.
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Hayes House: Tallahassee
The historic Hays-Hood house was built in 1910 and is one of the only Queen Anne style homes remaining in Tallahassee, Florida. In August 2005, the homeowner approached the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation to purchase and restore the building. Using a combination of public and private funds, member donations, and in-kind services, the Florida Trust has recently completed this 2 ½ year long project. Total costs for the restoration were more than $745,000. This project is a testament to the tremendous contribution that the Florida Department of State, Division of Historical Resources Special Category Grant program facilitates on protecting the historic resources around the state. This program provided over 90% of the funds necessary to complete the project, and has resulted in a truly wonderful historic asset for the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation and for the State of Florida.
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New Holland Apartments: Danville
The winner of numerous national and state-wide awards, including the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Award and the J. Timothy Anderson Awards for Excellence in Historic Rehabilitation, the developer of New Holland Apartments, Cross Point Human Services, is a clear leader in innovative approaches to affordable housing. The project not only took advantage of Affordable Housing and Historic Preservation Tax Credits, but did so while pursuing a green approach. Reaching the status of LEED Silver, the New Holland Apartments is the only project in the country that has proven historic preservation, green, and affordable housing can be achieved.
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Crump Theater: Columbus
Built in the late nineteenth century, the Crump Theater provided entertainment in Columbis, Indiana for the better part of a century: opera, live theater, vaudeville, movies. The decline of business downtown in the 1980s brought the theater business to a hault and finally the doors were closed and the Crump fell into serious disrepair. The Crump was saved through the efforts of many people, and began a transformation in the mid 1990's. In 2001, the facade of the great old theater was completed, and the marquis lit up, once again.
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Curtis Junior High School: Topeka
Built in 1927, the Curtis Junior High School was closed to students in 1976. It sat vacant for several years until Pioneer Group, a local developer, purchased the property and converted the 49,000-square- foot junior high building at 300 N.W. Grant into 35 one-bedroom rental units for senior citizens. The project qualified used state tax credits administered by the State Historic Preservation Office, and is listed on the state and national registers of historic places. New residents moved in in 2002, and today the historic school building has a new life.
Kentucky
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Arabella Station: New Orleans
Sarpy Hixon Development LLC, won recognition from the New Orleans Historic District Landmarks Commission and the Louisiana Preservation Alliance for developing the 100-plus-year-old Arabella Station at 5600 Magazine St. in Uptown. The former New Orleans Regional Transit Authority bus barn is now home to a Whole Foods Market.The award was given to the company for fitting the bus barn and Whole Foods Market into the existing architectural context of Magazine Street while remaining sensitive to preservation principles.
Maine | Marshall Islands | Maryland | Massachusetts | Michigan | Micronesia | Minnesota | Mississippi | Missouri | Montana
Maine
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Hibernian Hall: Roxbury
Having been vacant for 14 years, Roxbury's Hibernian Hall was in desperate need of repair. The building was the first Hibernian Hall in Roxbury and was once a lively venue for socials, dances, performances, and political events. The building has been restore keeping the dance hall for performances, exhibits, and events and the original storefronts house gallery space. Today it is home of Act Roxbury, which promotes the work of local artists and continues the tradition of providing a community gathering space. (From the brochure for the 27th Annual Massachusetts Preservation Awards)
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Sheehan-Horton House: St. Joseph
Looking for the impact of historic rehab tax credits on Missouri's neighborhoods? Just check out the Sheehan-Horton House, built in 1859, and showing every year of its age when it was purchased for $6,000 in 2002. The photo on the right shows its condition nine months later. Thanks to the dedication of its new owner, a grant from the city of St. Joseph (a certified local government) and Missouri's historic rehab tax credits, the six-room home built by a carpenter for his family sparkles just as much as the grand mansion built across the street in 1879. (From the Missouri SHPO Office)
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L&L Building: Billings
Three years ago, L&L Building at 2624 Minnesota Avenue, was one of the roughest bars in Billings, Montana. Built in 1893-1896, the storefront was rehabilitated owners L&L Development Venture, L.P., and general partner W. Randall Hafer of HighPlains Architects. The rehabilitation cost $360,000 and the owners used the federal and state historic rehabilitation tax credits. The L&L rehabilitation is one of dozens of properties rehabilitated in downtown Billings - a fifteen-year trend the community is very proud of and continues to support.
Nebraska | Nevada | New Hampshire | New Jersey | New Mexico |
New York | North Carolina | North Dakota | Northern Mariana Islands
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The La Concha Hotel Lobby: Las Vegas
The La Concha was built in 1961 and quickly became an icon on the Las Vegas strip. The hotel was designed by internationally renowned African-American architect Paul R. Williams, Hollywood's 'Architect to the Stars', who designed over 3,000 buildings, including the Los Angeles Int'l Airport and the Paris UN building.Since the demolition of the hotel wing behind the lobby a national letter writing campaign has demonstrated the level of interest in this wonderful little building. The movement to preserve the La Concha generated national support from architects, preservationists and historians as well as many individuals and organizations across the country including: the Historic Preservation Commission of the City of Las Vegas, the Preservation Association of Clark County, Preserve Nevada and the State Historic Preservation Office.
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Four Bears Bridge: Fort Berthold
Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and other federal regulations mandate consultation between federal agencies and tribal, state and local agencies and groups when planning projects which may affect historic properties. One recent project in north west North Dakota, the Four Bears Bridge on the Fort Berthold Reservation, is a case in point. The deliberations for its construction between tribal, federal, state, and other groups took years of cooperative effort. This sleek segmental concrete bridge was a collaborative design rooted in and reflective of the rich history of the Three Affiliated Tribes, also known as the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara (Sanish).
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Skirvin Hotel: Oklahoma City
When the Skirvin Hotel, downtown Oklahoma City's landmark hotel, closed its doors in 1988, there was little hope that it would ever again function as a hotel. The National Register listed hotel was placed on Preservation Oklahoma, Inc.'s very first Most Endangered Historic Places list where it remained until the City of Oklahoma City stepped up and purchased the building and had a contract with the developers of the Skirvin Hilton. Because the City of Oklahoma City acquired the hotel with federal funds and because the federal and state rehabilitation tax credits were key to the project's financial feasibility, the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) worked closely with the developers and their architects. On Monday, February 26, 2007, the Skirvin Hilton opened its doors during a very special ceremony. The $55 million rehabilitation evidences the importance of public/private partnerships and real teamwork in successful historic preservation projects and that historic preservation is a legitimate tool for community revitalization.
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Rhode Island
Tennessee | Texas
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