Colorado State Historic Preservation Office

Colorado State Historic Preservation Office
Name	Colorado State Historic Preservation Office
Abbreviation	SHPO
Formation	1976
Headquarters	Denver, Colorado
Region served	Colorado
Leader title	State Historic Preservation Officer

Colorado State Historic Preservation Office is the state agency responsible for identifying, evaluating, and protecting historic resources in Colorado. Established under the provisions of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the office operates within the framework of federal and state laws such as the National Register of Historic Places program and the National Trust for Historic Preservation network. It coordinates with agencies including the National Park Service, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, and local preservation organizations like the Colorado Historical Society and regional Denver Landmark Preservation Commission bodies.

History

The office traces its origins to the nationwide implementation of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and the later expansion of state-level capacity during the 1970s, alongside institutions such as the National Park Service and the Smithsonian Institution. Early collaborations connected the office with projects like the Historic American Buildings Survey and the Historic American Engineering Record, while regional efforts tied it to events including the Colorado Gold Rush and development patterns around the South Platte River. Over time the office engaged with programs influenced by the American Antiquities Act and legislative milestones such as the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. Important historical initiatives involved partnerships with the Colorado Historical Society, the University of Colorado Boulder, and municipal entities including City and County of Denver preservation programs.

Mission and Functions

The office's mission aligns with duties prescribed under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and koordinated with the National Park Service and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. Core functions include inventorying resources for the National Register of Historic Places, reviewing federal undertakings under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, and advising state agencies such as the Colorado Department of Transportation and the Colorado Department of Natural Resources. The office provides technical guidance on treatments consistent with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties and collaborates with institutions like the Library of Congress and the Historic American Buildings Survey for documentation.

Programs and Services

Programs administered include nominations to the National Register of Historic Places, stewardship of Historic Districts nominations, and management of Certified Local Government program partnerships. The office offers grants and preservation tax credit guidance in coordination with the National Trust for Historic Preservation and administers federal programs like the Historic Preservation Fund. Services extend to archaeological review linked to the Archaeological Resources Protection Act and consultation with tribal governments such as the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and Southern Ute Indian Tribe on Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act matters. Technical assistance covers preservation easements, heritage tourism support tied to the American Battlefield Protection Program model, and educational outreach with universities including Colorado State University and University of Denver.

Partnerships and Funding

Funding and partnerships derive from federal sources like the Historic Preservation Fund administered by the National Park Service, state appropriations from the Colorado General Assembly, and private collaboration with organizations such as the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Historic Denver, Inc. The office works with municipal preservation commissions in cities like Colorado Springs, Boulder, and Fort Collins, and coordinates with transportation projects by the Federal Highway Administration and the Colorado Department of Transportation. Grant programs often partner with foundations including the Getty Foundation and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation on surveys and documentation initiatives.

Notable Projects and Listings

The office has overseen nominations and stewardship of prominent National Register of Historic Places listings across the state, including historic sites in Mesa Verde National Park, Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site, and districts in Leadville and Georgetown. It supported preservation of landmarks such as the Pueblo Union Depot and industrial heritage like the Animas Forks, Colorado mining district. Collaborative projects involved documentation for the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and preservation planning connected to Fort Collins Historic Preservation initiatives and the adaptive reuse of structures in Denver neighborhoods like Lower Downtown Denver.

Organizational Structure and Staff

The office is led by the State Historic Preservation Officer, reporting to state leadership and coordinating with federal liaisons at the National Park Service and advisory entities like the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. Staff units typically include survey and National Register staff, compliance and review specialists for Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act consultations, grants management personnel, and archaeological professionals who consult with universities such as the University of Colorado Denver and museums like the History Colorado Center. The office collaborates with certified local governments, tribal historic preservation officers from tribes including the Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation, and volunteer networks such as Historic Preservation Commissions and local historical societies.

Legal Authority and Regulations

Legal authority flows from the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and complementary state statutes enacted by the Colorado General Assembly. The office implements Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act reviews for federal undertakings, administers programs related to the National Register of Historic Places, and applies standards set by the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. It engages in regulatory consultations with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, interprets implications of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 for historic resources, and enforces compliance in coordination with agencies such as the Federal Highway Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency on projects affecting cultural resources.

Category:Historic preservation in Colorado Category:State agencies of Colorado