In 1966, Congress passed the National Historic Preservation Act, which established the Federal Government as a leader and partner with the states in historic preservation. The National Park Service has the longest and most direct experience studying and managing historic resources. Through divisions such as The National Register of Historic Places; National Historic Landmark Program; Historic American Building Survey/Historic American Engineering Record; and National Center for Preservation Technology and Training, the National Park Service is widely recognized as taking the lead in promoting preservation efforts throughout the country.
In addition, Congress has created an Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. This cabinet level body is the only Federal entity which exists solely to address historic preservation issues. The National Trust for Historic Preservation, although a private organization, is chartered by Congress to support grassroots efforts in preservation.
Finally, each state has a State Historic Preservation Officer, appointed by the state's governor to develop and support statewide preservation programs: Alabama Historical Commission; Arizona State Parks; Arkansas Historic Preservation Program; California Office of Historic Preservation; Colorado Historical Society; Connecticut Historical Commission; Delaware State Historic Preservation Office; District of Columbia Historic Preservation Division; Florida Division of Historical Resources; Georgia Historic Preservation Division; Hawaii Department of Land & Natural Resources; Idaho State Historical Society; Illinois Historic Preservation Agency; Indiana Department of Natural Resources; State Historical Society of Iowa; Kansas State Historical Society; Kentucky Heritage Council; Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism; Maine Historic Preservation Commission; Maryland Historical Trust; Massachusetts Historical Commission; Michigan State Historic Preservation Office; Minnesota Historical Society; Mississippi Department of Archives & History; Missouri State Department of Natural Resources and Historic Preservation Programs; Montana State Historic Preservation Office; Nebraska State Historical Society; Nevada Historic Preservation Office; New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources; New Jersey Natural and Historic Resources Historic Preservation Office; New Mexico Historic Preservation Division; New York Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation; North Carolina Division of Archives & History; State Historical Society of North Dakota; Ohio Historic Preservation Office; Oklahoma Historical Society; Oregon State Parks & Recreation Department; Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission; Rhode Island Historic Preservation & Heritage Commission; South Carolina Department of Archives & History; South Dakota State Historic Preservation Office; Tennessee Historical Commission and Department of Environment and Conservation; Texas Historical Commission; Utah State Historical Society; Vermont Division for Historic Preservation; Virginia Department of Historic Resources; Washington Office of Archeology & Historic Preservation; West Virginia Division of Culture & History; State Historical Society of Wisconsin; Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office.
Page created Fall 1999 Maureen Cahill