Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office

Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office
Name	Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office
Headquarters	Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Region served	Pennsylvania
Parent organization	Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission

Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office is the state-level agency within the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission responsible for identifying, documenting, and protecting historic resources across Pennsylvania. Working with federal agencies such as the National Park Service and state entities including the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and the Pennsylvania Governor's Office, the office administers programs created under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and coordinates with local organizations like the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia, and county historical societies. Through nominations to the National Register of Historic Places, compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act, and collaboration with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, the office influences projects affecting sites from Independence Hall to industrial complexes in the Lehigh Valley.

History

Established following passage of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and the formation of the National Park Service's State Historic Preservation Officer program, the office traces roots to earlier efforts by the Pennsylvania Historical Commission and the Anthracite Heritage Museum movement. Early activity involved surveys of colonial sites such as Independence Hall, battlefield studies at Valley Forge National Historical Park, and documentation tied to transportation works like the Pennsylvania Canal system and the Erie Canal connections. During the 1970s and 1980s the office partnered with the Historic American Buildings Survey and the Historic American Engineering Record while engaging with preservation advocacy groups including the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Preservation Pennsylvania network. Responses to late 20th-century preservation challenges included coordination with the Environmental Protection Agency on brownfield redevelopment in former industrial centers such as Pittsburgh and the Lehigh Valley, and nominations for sites related to the Underground Railroad, the Pennsylvania Railroad, and the Homestead Strike.

Organization and Responsibilities

The office operates as a bureau within the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission alongside divisions responsible for collections and museums, working with the National Park Service and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. Staff roles include State Historic Preservation Officer, architectural historians, archaeologists, and National Register specialists who liaise with the United States Army Corps of Engineers, the Federal Highway Administration, and municipal preservation commissions in cities such as Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Harrisburg. Responsibilities encompass conducting surveys like the Pennsylvania Historic Resource Survey Form, reviewing projects under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, administering the Certified Local Government program, and overseeing cultural resource management in coordination with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

Programs and Initiatives

Key programs include administration of the National Register of Historic Places nominations, management of the Historic Preservation Tax Incentives in coordination with the Internal Revenue Service, and grant programs funded through the Historic Preservation Fund and state appropriations. Initiative areas cover architectural rehabilitation in historic districts such as Old City (Philadelphia), archaeological surveys of sites tied to Lenape history, and thematic studies addressing industrial heritage like the Johnstown Flood legacy and the Coal Region. The office also runs outreach through exhibits linked to the State Museum of Pennsylvania and participates in statewide planning with the Pennsylvania State Data Center.

Preservation Projects and Grants

The office awards matching grants and oversees large-scale projects including stabilization of landmarks like lighthouses on the Great Lakes, rehabilitation of train stations on the Pennsylvania Railroad corridor, and adaptive reuse projects in former mills in the Lehigh Valley and the Schuylkill River corridor. Grant administration interfaces with federal programs such as the Transportation Enhancement and state tax-credit programs modeled on the National Park Service historic rehabilitation standards. Notable funded efforts have involved restoration at Fallingwater, conservation of Gettysburg-adjacent structures, and documentation of Civil War sites, carried out with partners ranging from the Civil War Trust to local municipalities.

Partnerships and Outreach

The office partners with organizations such as the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Preservation Pennsylvania, the Historic American Buildings Survey, and universities including University of Pennsylvania, Penn State University, and Temple University for research, internships, and public programs. Outreach includes collaboration with tribal entities representing the Lenape and coordination with cultural organizations like the Pennsylvania African American Museum and the Pennsylvania Dutch Cultural Heritage Center. Educational efforts link with the Pennsylvania State Education Association and local school districts for curricula that reference sites like Independence Hall, Valley Forge, and Fort Necessity National Battlefield.

Legal and Regulatory Framework

Operations depend on federal statutes and regulations including the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Environmental Policy Act, and guidance from the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, alongside state statutes administered by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Regulatory reviews under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 require coordination with federal agencies such as the Federal Highway Administration and the United States Army Corps of Engineers, while state-level protections involve local historic district ordinances in municipalities like Philadelphia and county-level planning commissions in Allegheny County and Bucks County.

Notable Listings and Surveys

The office has facilitated listings on the National Register of Historic Places including Independence Hall, Fallingwater, Pennsylvania State Capitol Complex, and industrial sites in the Lehigh Valley and Pittsburgh; thematic surveys have documented resources associated with the Underground Railroad, Pennsylvania Railroad, Anthracite Coal Region, and Native American sites related to the Lenape. Large-scale surveys include architectural inventories in Philadelphia, battlefield studies at Gettysburg National Military Park environs, and industrial heritage assessments tied to the Erie Canal era and the Homestead Strike sites.

Category:Historic preservation in Pennsylvania