Association of State and Territorial Historic Preservation Officers

Association of State and Territorial Historic Preservation Officers
Name	Association of State and Territorial Historic Preservation Officers
Abbreviation	ASTHPO
Formation	1969
Type	nonprofit association
Headquarters	Washington, D.C.
Region served	United States and territories
Leader title	Executive Director

Association of State and Territorial Historic Preservation Officers is a U.S.-based nonprofit membership organization that represents the offices responsible for implementation of historic preservation programs in the fifty United States, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. It serves as a collective voice in federal-state-tribal relations, provides technical assistance on programs such as the National Register of Historic Places, and convenes state, territorial, and tribal leaders to coordinate preservation policy. The organization engages with federal agencies, Congress, and preservation partners to influence laws, regulations, and funding for cultural resource management.

History

The organization was founded in the context of landmark legislation including the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and subsequent federal programs administered by the National Park Service, arising from efforts following the World War II urban renewal era and the preservation advocacy that grew around sites like Independence Hall and Monticello. Early collaboration involved state commissioners who worked with figures from the Smithsonian Institution, staff from the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, and scholars associated with Historic American Buildings Survey, Historic American Engineering Record, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Over decades the association adapted to policy developments tied to the American Indian Religious Freedom Act, National Environmental Policy Act, and legislative changes during administrations from Nixon administration to Biden administration, expanding its scope to include tribal consultation inspired by cases such as Lyng v. Northwest Indian Cemetery Protective Association and statutes like the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.

Mission and Activities

The association’s mission emphasizes stewardship of cultural resources parallel to mandates found in the National Register of Historic Places and the National Historic Landmarks Program. Activities include providing guidance on Section 106 of the NHPA, coordinating responses to emergency incidents like those handled by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in hurricane and wildfire events, and advising on tax incentive programs connected to the Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit. It offers training linked to methodologies from the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, collaborates with preservation entities such as the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Preservation Action, and interfaces with research institutions including the Library of Congress and university programs at Harvard University and the University of Pennsylvania.

Membership and Governance

Membership comprises State Historic Preservation Officers appointed under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and officials from territorial offices like those in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as representatives from American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Governance follows nonprofit best practices with a board of directors and committees modeled after associations such as the National Governors Association and Council of State Governments. Leadership roles interact with federal entities including the National Park Service, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, and Congressional committees such as the United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the United States House Committee on Natural Resources.

Programs and Initiatives

The association runs technical assistance programs that parallel initiatives like the Certified Local Government Program and provides training similar to seminars hosted by the American Institute of Architects and the American Planning Association. Initiatives address climate resiliency in partnership with bodies like the Environmental Protection Agency and research centers such as the Urban Land Institute and the National Academy of Sciences. It promotes heritage tourism models exemplified by the National Scenic Byways Program and collaborates on grants related to the Historic Preservation Fund, leveraging data systems akin to the National Register Information System and inventories modeled on the Historic American Landscapes Survey.

Funding and Partnerships

Funding sources mirror those of comparable nonprofits: grants from federal appropriations such as the Historic Preservation Fund, project support from agencies like the National Park Service and partnerships with foundations including the Ford Foundation and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. The association partners with advocacy organizations like the National Trust for Historic Preservation, academic centers at Columbia University and University of California, Berkeley, and professional bodies including the American Cultural Resources Association and the Society for American Archaeology to leverage expertise and co-fund programs.

Advocacy and Policy Influence

The association engages in policy advocacy on legislative matters including reauthorization of the National Historic Preservation Act, amendments to the Tax Reform Act affecting rehabilitation incentives, and appropriations for the Historic Preservation Fund. It provides testimony to Congressional committees such as the United States Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and the United States House Committee on Appropriations, submits comments on rulemaking by the National Park Service and Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, and coordinates with national coalitions like Preservation Action and the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions.

Notable Projects and Impact

Members have supported high-profile preservation projects comparable to the rehabilitation of Ellis Island, the conservation efforts at Independence Hall, and disaster recovery after events like Hurricane Katrina and the California wildfires. The association’s guidance has influenced stewardship of landscapes including the Blue Ridge Parkway and urban districts such as French Quarter, New Orleans and Georgetown (Washington, D.C.), and contributed to nominations resulting in listings on the National Register of Historic Places and designation as National Historic Landmarks. Collaborative work with tribal nations has informed repatriation efforts under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act and cultural landscape preservation in places like Bandelier National Monument and Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.

Category:Historic preservation organizations of the United States