Ohio Historic Preservation Office

Ohio Historic Preservation Office
Name	Ohio Historic Preservation Office
Formation	1974
Headquarters	Columbus, Ohio
Parent organization	Ohio History Connection

Ohio Historic Preservation Office

The Ohio Historic Preservation Office (OHPO) is a state agency charged with identifying, documenting, protecting, and promoting Ohio's cultural heritage through surveys, nominations, tax incentives, and technical assistance. It serves as the State Historic Preservation Office under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and acts as the liaison with the National Park Service, managing federal and state programs affecting historic districts, archaeological sites, and individual National Register of Historic Places listings across counties such as Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Franklin County, Ohio, and Hamilton County, Ohio. The office collaborates with municipalities like Cleveland, Ohio, Columbus, Ohio, and Cincinnati, Ohio and with institutions including the Ohio History Connection and the State Historic Preservation Offices network.

History

OHPO traces its institutional roots to the nationwide preservation movement sparked by the passage of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and subsequent state implementation in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Early efforts focused on inventorying sites such as the Serpent Mound and industrial landmarks in Youngstown, Ohio and Akron, Ohio, and on integrating preservation into federal project review under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. The office has overseen multiple waves of activity, from mid-20th-century preservation campaigns saving sites associated with figures like William Howard Taft and Eli Whitney to late-20th-century urban revitalization in Toledo, Ohio and Dayton, Ohio. Landmark policy developments included state-level historic tax incentives aligned with the Tax Reform Act of 1986 and participation in regional initiatives such as the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission-related cultural resource studies.

Mission and Functions

The office's mission aligns with preserving historic places, promoting stewardship of resources like covered bridges and underground railroad stations, and providing regulatory oversight for projects involving federally assisted undertakings. Core functions include administering the National Register of Historic Places nominations for properties like the Taft Museum of Art, reviewing federal undertakings under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, managing the state's historic tax credit programs in coordination with the Internal Revenue Service rules, and maintaining statewide survey files used by county historical societies such as the Cuyahoga County Historical Society and the Warren County Historical Society. The office also provides technical guidance for rehabilitation projects listed on the National Trust for Historic Preservation's watch lists.

Programs and Initiatives

OHPO administers programs including the state and federal historic tax credit pipelines, the National Register of Historic Places nomination program, and survey and inventory initiatives covering landscapes, rural districts, and urban cores like Cincinnati's Over-the-Rhine and Columbus' Victorian Village. Initiative-specific efforts target endangered resources identified by groups such as Preservation Ohio, the Historic American Buildings Survey, and the Historic American Engineering Record. The office runs thematic studies on industrial heritage (e.g., coal mining in Ohio), maritime archaeology on the Great Lakes, and vernacular architecture surveys related to Amish and Mennonite communities. Training programs tie into the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training and stewardship workshops with the Ohio Preservation Council.

Partnerships and Community Outreach

Partnerships span local governments like the City of Cleveland, nonprofit organizations including Preservation Ohio and the National Trust for Historic Preservation, academic partners such as Ohio State University and Miami University, and federal agencies including the National Park Service and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. Collaborative outreach engages tribal nations such as the Shawnee and Wyandot through consultations under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and coordinates with museums like the Cincinnati Museum Center and the Toledo Museum of Art for exhibits. Community programs work with Main Street programs in Xenia, Ohio and Marietta, Ohio and with neighborhood groups in areas affected by projects funded through the Federal Highway Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency brownfields grants.

Organizational Structure and Staffing

The office operates within the state administrative framework and employs professionals including architectural historians, archaeologists, historic preservation planners, and outreach coordinators. Staff roles mirror standards promoted by the National Park Service and often include Certified Local Government coordinators who liaise with municipal preservation commissions like those in Akron, Ohio and Dayton, Ohio. Leadership typically comprises a State Historic Preservation Officer appointed according to state statutes, supported by divisions for survey and registration, archaeology, tax incentives, and compliance review. Internships and fellowships are frequently offered in partnership with institutions such as the Franklin County Historical Society and university preservation programs.

Funding and Grants

Funding sources include state appropriations, federal grants from the National Park Service under the Historic Preservation Fund, investment via historic rehabilitation tax credits, and competitive grants in partnership with entities like the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Grant programs support archaeological investigations related to the Ohio River corridor, preservation of battlefield-associated sites such as those connected to the War of 1812, and stabilization of properties on endangered lists maintained by organizations like Preservation Ohio. The office also administers matching grants that leverage investment from local governments, philanthropic foundations including the Kresge Foundation, and corporate partners in redevelopment projects.

Notable Projects and Listings

The office has facilitated National Register nominations and preservation projects for landmarks such as the Serpent Mound, the Taft Museum of Art, the Ohio Statehouse, historic districts like Over-the-Rhine in Cincinnati, Ohio, and industrial complexes in Youngstown, Ohio and Akron, Ohio. Archaeological work has documented prehistoric mound sites and Euro-American settlements along the Ohio River and Lake Erie shoreline, while rehabilitation projects have reused structures associated with figures like Harriet Beecher Stowe and John D. Rockefeller. Collaborative initiatives have placed numerous properties on the National Register of Historic Places and advanced preservation-friendly policies at the state and municipal levels.

Category:Historic preservation in Ohio