Historic Preservation Office (Oregon)

Historic Preservation Office (Oregon)
Name	Oregon Historic Preservation Office
Native name	State Historic Preservation Office
Formed	1966
Jurisdiction	Oregon
Headquarters	Salem, Oregon
Parent agency	Oregon Parks and Recreation Department

Historic Preservation Office (Oregon) is the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) for Oregon, responsible for identifying, evaluating, and protecting historic properties. It implements provisions of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, administers state and federal preservation programs, and collaborates with municipalities, tribes, and agencies to manage cultural resources across Portland, Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, and rural counties.

History

The office traces its origins to the passage of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and the subsequent establishment of state SHPOs in the late 1960s, influenced by preservation efforts surrounding the Alamo and the Penn Station controversy. Early work intersected with projects affecting the Willamette Valley, Columbia River Gorge, and historic districts like Old Town Chinatown (Portland, Oregon), prompting coordination with entities such as the National Park Service and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. Over decades the office responded to legislative changes including amendments to the National Environmental Policy Act process and engaged with tribal governments including the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.

Mission and Functions

The office’s mission implements the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 framework at the state level, working with the National Register of Historic Places program and the Historic American Buildings Survey. Core functions include maintaining the statewide historic properties inventory, reviewing projects under Section 106 of the NHPA for federal undertakings, and advising on tax incentives such as the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives and state rehabilitation tax credits. The office provides technical assistance to local bodies including the Portland Historic Landmarks Commission, county historical societies, and nonprofit organizations like the Oregon Historical Society.

Organizational Structure

The office operates within the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department and reports to state leadership while coordinating with federal agencies such as the National Park Service and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Staff units typically include survey and inventory teams, compliance review specialists for Section 106, archeology staff liaising with the archaeological program, and grants administration. The office partners with universities including University of Oregon and Oregon State University and professional groups like the Society of Architectural Historians for research, training, and preservation planning.

Programs and Initiatives

Programs include the nomination process to the National Register of Historic Places, administration of the state tax credit, and stewardship of the statewide inventory of historic sites. Initiatives have targeted downtown revitalization in Astoria, Oregon and Pendleton, Oregon, preservation planning in the Columbia River Highway corridor, and heritage tourism partnerships with the Oregon Main Street Network and Travel Oregon. The office runs educational outreach aligning with events like Preservation Month and collaborates on documentation efforts using the Historic American Buildings Survey, Historic American Engineering Record, and Historic American Landscapes Survey programs.

State and Federal Coordination

The office functions as the primary liaison between state agencies such as the Oregon State Police (for records access), the Oregon Department of Transportation for project reviews, and federal agencies including the Federal Highway Administration and the Bureau of Land Management for Section 106 compliance. It coordinates with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation on program alternatives, works with the National Park Service on National Register nominations, and engages tribal historic preservation officers from tribes such as the Warm Springs Indian Reservation and Coquille Indian Tribe for consultation on cultural resources.

Preservation Criteria and Designation Process

The office applies National Register criteria established by the National Park Service to evaluate properties for significance in association with persons, events, design, or information potential. The process involves survey documentation, evaluation of integrity, public notice, and review by the Oregon State Advisory Committee on Historic Preservation before forwarding nominations to the National Park Service for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. The office also administers state-level landmark designations and local landmark nominations for commissions like the Salem Historic Landmarks Commission.

Funding and Grants

Funding sources include federal grants from the Historic Preservation Fund, state appropriations through the Oregon Legislature, and competitive grants administered by the office for cryptic preservation projects, rehabilitation, and archaeology. The office manages federal pass-through funding tied to compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and partners with foundations such as the National Trust for Historic Preservation and private donors to leverage historic tax credits and Community Development Block Grants overseen by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Impact and Notable Projects

The office played a key role in National Register nominations for landmarks such as the Pittock Mansion, Crater Lake National Park adjacent resources, the Historic Columbia River Highway, and the preservation of Portland's Skidmore Fountain area. It has influenced rehabilitation of industrial sites like the Astoria-Megler Bridge approaches and supported archaeological investigations at sites tied to the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site and indigenous heritage locations. Collaborative projects have advanced downtown revitalization in Salem, Oregon, waterfront redevelopment in Newport, Oregon, and adaptive reuse efforts in Bend, Oregon.

Category:State Historic Preservation Offices Category:Historic preservation in Oregon