Louisiana Division of Historic Preservation

Louisiana Division of Historic Preservation
Name	Louisiana Division of Historic Preservation
Formed	1970
Jurisdiction	State of Louisiana
Headquarters	Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Parent agency	Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism
Chief1 name	(Director)

Louisiana Division of Historic Preservation is the state agency charged with identifying, documenting, and promoting the historic and cultural resources of Louisiana. The Division operates within the framework of state law and federal programs, coordinating activities related to the National Register of Historic Places, Historic American Buildings Survey, and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. Its work intersects with preservation offices, museums, archives, and academic institutions across Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and parishes statewide.

History

The Division traces institutional roots to mid-20th century preservation movements that engaged figures associated with Historic American Landscapes Survey, Peyton–Rayner House studies, and early inventories conducted by scholars from Tulane University and Louisiana State University. Legislative milestones such as the establishment of state-level historic preservation programs after the passage of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 shaped its creation alongside agencies like the National Park Service and state historic preservation offices in other states, including the Texas Historical Commission and the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. Historic events—floods in Lake Pontchartrain region, hurricanes such as Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Ida, and major urban renewal projects in New Orleans and Shreveport—prompted expansions in survey work, mitigation strategies, and disaster response planning. Partnerships with preservationists connected to the Historic New Orleans Collection, Vieux Carré Commission, Garden District Historic District, and the Louisiana State Museum contributed to policy development and public advocacy.

Mission and Programs

The Division's mission aligns with statutory preservation standards under the National Historic Preservation Act and state statutes administered by the Louisiana State Legislature. Core programs include maintaining the Statewide Historic Preservation Plan, administering the State Historic Preservation Office duties, and managing inventories used for nominations to the National Register of Historic Places. Programmatic priorities cover surveys of archaeological resources tied to the Mississippi River Delta, documentation of Creole and Acadian cultural landscapes relevant to St. Martin Parish and Acadiana, and stewardship of vernacular architecture found in communities like Natchitoches and Lafayette. The Division oversees compliance roles under Section 106 review for federal undertakings by agencies such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency, coordinates tax credit applications akin to the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives program, and runs technical assistance programs comparable to those by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation.

Organizational Structure

The Division operates as a bureau within the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism with a director overseeing sections for survey and registration, archaeology, compliance and review, grants and outreach, and technical services. Staff roles mirror those found in other state preservation offices, including historic architects, architectural historians, archaeologists with ties to Louisiana Archaeological Society, and cultural resource managers. Regional liaisons work with parish historic commissions such as the Orleans Parish Landmarks Commission and municipal entities like the New Orleans Historic District Landmarks Commission. Advisory bodies include professionals from Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans, scholars from Dillard University, and representatives from tribal organizations recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs when consultations involve indigenous cultural resources.

Preservation Projects and Initiatives

The Division has led or supported projects ranging from National Register nominations for properties in French Quarter and Plantation Country, to archaeological surveys along the Atchafalaya Basin and stabilization efforts for structures affected by Coastal erosion and subsidence tied to the Bonnet Carré Spillway region. Initiatives include documentation projects in partnership with the Historic American Engineering Record for bridges, collaboration with the Louisiana Folklife Program on intangible cultural heritage inventories, and resilience planning after storm events through coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Preservation work extends to adaptive reuse projects in conjunction with developers, financial institutions like the Louisiana Office of Community Development, and nonprofit stewards such as Restore Ouachita and the Historic New Orleans Collection.

Grants and Funding

The Division administers competitive grant programs and oversees distribution of federal and state funds including Historic Preservation Fund allocations from the National Park Service and state matching funds appropriated by the Louisiana State Legislature. Grant categories support survey and inventory work, rehabilitation of certified historic structures leveraging the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives program model, archaeological research grants in partnership with the Louisiana Division of Archaeology, and disaster recovery grants coordinated with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Funding partnerships have included private foundations such as the Kresge Foundation and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, philanthropic donors active in preservation like the Watson Institute, and community development entities including the Enterprise Community Partners.

Partnerships and Outreach

Outreach efforts involve collaboration with academic partners including Louisiana State University and Tulane University, nonprofit organizations such as the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Louisiana Landmarks Society, municipal commissions like the New Orleans Historic District Landmarks Commission, and federal agencies including the National Park Service and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. The Division supports training programs for local preservationists in association with the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions and conducts public history initiatives with museums such as the Louisiana State Museum and the Historic New Orleans Collection. Community-focused partnerships involve cultural organizations representing Creole, Acadian, African American, and Indigenous heritage stakeholders in parishes including St. Landry Parish, Jefferson Parish, and Caddo Parish to integrate diverse narratives into preservation planning.

Category:Historic preservation in the United States Category:Government agencies of Louisiana