Kentucky

Camp Nelson National Monument demonstrates the uncovering and preservation of a National Treasure.

Camp Nelson was the largest Union supply depot in Kentucky and the third-largest recruitment and training center for African American troops during the Civil War. Despite its national significance, much of the site’s archaeological importance was unknown until Section 106 investigations were conducted in advance of an AT&T transmission line easement and the realignment of U.S. Route 27.

Rather than delaying these transportation and utility projects, the Section 106 process enabled archaeologists to identify, document, and preserve one of the nation’s most significant Civil War landscapes while allowing development to proceed. Investigations uncovered barracks, hospitals, fortifications, industrial facilities, and the Home for Colored Refugees, providing invaluable new insights into military operations, the daily lives of Union soldiers and U.S. Colored Troops, and the experiences of formerly enslaved men, women, and children who sought freedom at Camp Nelson.

Because Section 106 required these investigations before construction, an extraordinary chapter of American history was documented and preserved for future generations. Today, Camp Nelson is protected as a National Monument and stands as one of the nation’s premier Civil War archaeological sites, demonstrating how Section 106 can advance both infrastructure projects and the preservation of nationally significant historic resources. Learn more: National Park Service.

Oklahoma

Honey Springs Battlefield Pipeline is an example of preserving history while delivering critical infrastructure.

When the proposed Diamond Pipeline required federal permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the planned route crossed the nationally significant Honey Springs Battlefield, a National Historic Landmark and the site of the largest Civil War battle fought in Indian Territory. While the Corps’ review focused only on water crossings, the Oklahoma SHPO identified that the proposed route would adversely affect the broader historic battlefield landscape.

Through the Section 106 consultation process, the SHPO, federal agency, and project sponsor worked together to find a better solution. Rather than halting the project, the pipeline was rerouted around the battlefield, preserving its archaeological resources and historic setting while allowing the pipeline to move forward.

This project demonstrates what Section 106 is designed to do: identify potential conflicts early, bring the right parties to the table, and develop practical solutions that balance infrastructure development with the protection of irreplaceable historic resources. Without Section 106, the battlefield could have suffered unnecessary damage with little opportunity to consider alternatives.

First National Bank & Trust Building in Oklahoma City explores turning a vacant landmark into an economic engine.

After sitting vacant for decades following Oklahoma’s oil and banking collapse of the 1980s, the historic First National Bank & Trust Building in downtown Oklahoma City was transformed into a vibrant mixed-use development with a hotel, apartments, restaurants, and retail space. The ambitious rehabilitation depended on a complex financing package that combined federal and state historic rehabilitation tax credits, EPA Brownfields funding, HUD assistance, and private investment.

Because multiple federal funding sources were involved, Section 106 consultation brought together the developer, the Oklahoma SHPO, HUD, EPA, and other partners to ensure the building’s defining historic features were preserved while meeting modern needs. The rehabilitation retained iconic spaces such as the Great Hall, decorative murals, ornate elevator doors, and historic vaults while sensitively adapting the building for new uses.

Section 106 did not create an obstacle to redevelopment — it provided the collaborative framework that helped coordinate agencies, resolve preservation issues, and unlock the financing needed to make the project feasible. Opened in 2022, the project demonstrates how Section 106 can catalyze investment, create jobs, revitalize downtowns, and preserve the historic places that define our communities.