SHPO Fact Sheet #8:
OKLAHOMA'S STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE
April 2001
What is the SHPO?
The State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) is a division of the Oklahoma Historical Society, a state agency, and is responsible for carrying out the National Register Programs in Oklahoma. These programs were established under the National Historic Preservation Act and are conducted in partnership with the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS). With these programs as the tools, the SHPO works with federal agencies, other state agencies, local governments, tribal governments, nonprofit organizations, and concerned citizens to insure that Oklahoma's significant archeological and historic resources are protected.
What are the SHPO's programs?
The SHPO's programs include the National Register of Historic Places, Survey and Inventory, Review and Compliance, Preservation Planning, Certified Local Governments, Preservation Tax Incentives, and Public Outreach and Technical Assistance. Each program is briefly described below.
National Register of Historic Places: The National Register is a catalogue of the buildings, sites, structures, districts, and objects significant in our past, and the register is the foundation for all of the SHPO's programs. Listing in the National Register provides recognition, limited protection, and, in some cases, financial incentives for these important properties. The SHPO identifies, evaluates, and nominates properties for this special designation. For detailed information, contact Lynda Schwan, 405/522-4478.
Survey and Inventory: Through systematic field investigations and archival research, archeological and architectural/historic resources are identified, recorded, and evaluated for National Register eligibility. The SHPO accomplishes most of this work through cooperative arrangements with universities, nonprofit organizations, and local governments. The information collected on archeological resources is maintained by the Oklahoma Archeological Survey, University of Oklahoma, and the SHPO houses the architectural/historic survey data in the Oklahoma Landmarks Inventory. For detailed information about archeological surveys contact Charles S. Wallis, Jr. at 405/521-6381, and about architectural/historic surveys contact Kelli Gaston at 405/522-4478.
Review and Compliance (Section 106 Review): Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act stipulates that federal agencies must consider the effects of their undertakings on properties listed in or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. The SHPO has an important role in this process and consults with the Oklahoma Archeological Survey under the program. The SHPO assists federal agencies or their recipients of funding, license, or permits to determine if significant archeological or historic resources are located within the project area and if so, whether the undertaking will impact these properties. Depending on the situation, the SHPO helps the agency to develop appropriate mitigation of any adverse effects on these valuable resources. For detailed information contact Charles S. Wallis, Jr. at 405/521-6381.
Preservation Planning: Tomorrow's Legacy: Oklahoma's Statewide Preservation Plan sets forth the goals and objectives for furthering historic preservation efforts in the State. Through close consultation with Oklahoma's preservation community, the SHPO developed the plan which will be updated every five years. The SHPO encourages other government agencies, nonprofit organizations and individuals to participate in the State Plan's implementation. For detailed information and/or a copy of the State Plan contact Melvena Heisch at 405/522-4484.
Certified Local Governments (CLG): Under the CLG program, local governments that enforce appropriate historic preservation zoning ordinances are delegated certain SHPO responsibilities, receive federal matching funds for the development of their local preservation program, and participate in the National Register of Historic Places nomination process. For detailed information contact Glen Roberson at 405/521-6387.
Preservation Tax Incentives: Current federal tax law provides a 20% investment tax credit for certified rehabilitation of a certified historic structure. The SHPO consults with property owners as they develop their project plans, reviews the final applications, and transmits the applications with comments to NPS for approval. It is important that potential applicants for the credit contact the SHPO at the earliest possible time during project planning. Rehabilitation work that does not meet the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and Guidelines for Rehabilitation jeopardizes the applicant's eligibility for the credit. For detailed information contact Catherine Montgomery at 405/522-4479.
Public Outreach and Technical Assistance: Increased public awareness about Oklahoma's rich heritage and the threats to it is perhaps the most effective historic preservation tool. The SHPO cosponsors the annual statewide preservation conference and a quarterly newsletter to distribute information about preservation issues and methods. Additionally, the SHPO presents a fall and a spring workshop series on its various programs; staff members do special presentations for groups upon request; and staff members provide technical assistance on a wide range of historic preservation topics.
The SHPO offers special recognition programs to further develop public interest in historic preservation. The Shirk Memorial Award for Historic Preservation and the SHPO's Citation of Merit are presented at the statewide preservation conference. For detailed information contact Melvena Heisch at 405/522-4484. To focus attention on the importance of agriculture to Oklahoma's development and to help increase the number of rural properties identified and evaluated for National Register eligibility, the SHPO, the Oklahoma Historical Society's Administration Division, and the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture work together to carry out the Centennial Farm and Ranch Program. For detailed information contact Glen Roberson at 405/521-6387.