Wisconsin State Historic Preservation Office

Wisconsin State Historic Preservation Office
Name	Wisconsin State Historic Preservation Office
Formation	1976
Headquarters	Madison, Wisconsin
Parent organization	Wisconsin Historical Society

Wisconsin State Historic Preservation Office is the official state-level agency responsible for coordinating historic preservation activities across Wisconsin; it operates from the Wisconsin Historical Society in Madison, Wisconsin. The office implements provisions of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and collaborates with federal entities such as the National Park Service, state bodies including the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, and local partners like municipal historic preservation commissions. It serves as the statewide liaison for the National Register of Historic Places, provides technical assistance for projects involving the Section 106 review process, and administers grant programs tied to the Historic Preservation Fund and other federal funding streams.

History

The office was established following enactment of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and the expansion of preservation infrastructure across the United States, aligning with activities of institutions such as the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Library of Congress's Historic American Buildings Survey. Early collaboration included the Wisconsin Historical Society and municipal agencies in Milwaukee, Dane County, and La Crosse County. Over time the office worked on nominations for the National Register of Historic Places covering sites like Taliesin (Frank Lloyd Wright), Pabst Theater, and districts in Madison. Through the decades it engaged with programs influenced by legislation such as the Tax Reform Act of 1976 (affecting preservation incentives) and federal initiatives under administrations including Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan.

Organization and Administration

The office is administratively housed within the Wisconsin Historical Society, coordinating with statewide entities like the Wisconsin Department of Administration and regional offices in cities including Green Bay and Eau Claire. Leadership typically comprises a State Historic Preservation Officer who liaises with the National Park Service and reports to the Wisconsin Historical Society Board of Curators. Staff specialties include architectural historians, archaeologists, and preservation planners who consult on projects with agencies such as the Federal Highway Administration and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The office maintains records and inventories that intersect with collections at institutions like the Wisconsin Historical Museum and archives related to figures such as Frank Lloyd Wright and events like the Great Chicago Fire (regional preservation relevance).

Programs and Activities

Core programs include identification and documentation projects akin to the Historic American Buildings Survey, archaeological surveys connected to Native American cultural resources, and stewardship of historic districts similar to those in Milwaukee and Madison. The office administers cultural resource inventories that inform work with entities such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency during disasters and with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for coastal resource considerations affecting Lake Michigan. It also supports tax incentive programs that parallel federal rehabilitation tax credits used by properties like the Pabst Brewery Complex and collaborates on heritage tourism initiatives related to corridors such as the Great River Road.

National Register of Historic Places Coordination

The office reviews and forwards nominations to the National Park Service for listings on the National Register of Historic Places, handling nominations for landmarks ranging from vernacular architecture to properties associated with people like Addison Mizner-era architects and industrial sites analogous to the Eagle Tower and Badger Army Ammunition Plant. It convenes state review boards similar to those required under federal regulations to evaluate eligibility criteria and integrity, coordinating with local entities including historic preservation commissions in Kenosha, Oshkosh, and Racine. The office also assists in preparing determinations of eligibility tied to regulatory processes under statutes like the National Environmental Policy Act.

Grants and Funding

Grant administration encompasses competitive and formula grants funded by the Historic Preservation Fund and federal appropriations routed through the National Park Service. The office manages programs analogous to the federal Save America’s Treasures initiative and state-level incentives comparable to certified rehabilitation tax credits used nationwide. Funding partnerships span private foundations such as the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and state allocations from the Wisconsin Legislature. Grant recipients have included municipal projects in Appleton, nonprofit organizations like the Wisconsin Trust for Historic Preservation, and campus initiatives at institutions such as the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

Preservation Planning and Compliance

The office conducts preservation planning that intersects with statewide plans similar to the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan and regulatory compliance under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. It provides reviews for undertakings by agencies including the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, advising on mitigation strategies used in projects like infrastructure improvements by the Federal Highway Administration. The office also engages in archaeological compliance tied to sites relevant to tribes such as the Ho-Chunk Nation and Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, coordinating consultation under federal tribal consultation policies.

Public Outreach and Education

Public outreach includes workshops modeled on programs by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, educational materials distributed to schools including Madison Metropolitan School District, and partnerships with cultural institutions like the Milwaukee Public Museum and university programs at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. The office sponsors conferences and walking tours similar to events organized by the Society of Architectural Historians and supports community-led preservation efforts in neighborhoods such as those in Sheboygan and Stevens Point. It also publishes guidance for property owners that echoes best practices from organizations like the National Park Service and collaborates with media outlets including the Wisconsin State Journal for public information campaigns.

Category:Historic preservation in Wisconsin Category:Wisconsin Historical Society