State Historic Preservation Office Program

Designated as part of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, each of the 50 states plus DC, the territories, and the Freely Associated States have established State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPO). These are the state leaders responsible for helping to preserve places that matter and supporting, coordinating, and promoting preservation efforts throughout their state.

SHPOs play a critical role carrying out many responsibilities in historic preservation. Along with qualified staff, they are charged with :

• Conducting comprehensive surveys 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”

• Providing consultation for Federal undertakings under the Section 106 provision of the National Historic Preservation Act

SHPOs are awarded Federal funding annually from the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) grants program. These grants are based on an apportionment formula which includes a current minimum 10% pass-through to support local preservation projects.