National Park Service announces $73.6M in Historic Preservation Grants to states and Tribes

By: News Media

WASHINGTON – The National Park Service (NPS) today announced the distribution of $57,675,000 in historic preservation grants for states, territories, and partnering nations, and $16 million to more than 200 Tribal historic preservation offices. 

“The National Park Service is committed to telling a more complete and diverse story of America’s history. Historic preservation grants like these, with the support of our state, tribal, and local partners, help us reach that goal by preserving each state and nation’s significant historic and cultural places,” said NPS Director Chuck Sams.

Administered by the NPS, these funds are appropriated annually by Congress from the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF). Since its inception in 1977, the HPF has provided more than $2 billion in historic preservation grants to states, tribes, local governments, and non-profit organizations.

Preservation in Action 

State and Local Preservation Grants 

The HPF grants fund preservation programs at state offices and ensure support of local preservation with a required 10% pass through to Certified Local Governments via competitive subgrants. Examples of the diversity of work accomplished with this annual funding include:   

  • In Douglas Wyoming, the Douglas Historic Preservation Commission (DHPC) hired consultants to survey the South Douglas Residential Historic District with the support of a Certified Local Government grant. The Rosenberg Historical Consultants completed an inventory within an irregularly shaped geographic area that represents approximately eight full blocks and eleven partial blocks. Of the 173 buildings surveyed, 159 were researched, photographed, and recorded on Wyoming Historic Architecture Component Descriptive Forms (WYCPF 8f) and 116 are considered eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. The DHPC have contracted with Rosenberg Historical Consultants to complete a National Register nomination for the South Douglas Residential Historic District next year.
  • In November of 2021, the Maine State Legislature’s Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability (OPEGA) released its report titled “Evaluation of the Maine Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit.”  This was the first evaluation of the tax credit since it was substantially improved in 2008.  Over the course of several months, OPEGA’s staff conducted research into all aspects of the tax credit program, including its administration by the Maine Historic Preservation Commission.  The Commission’s director and tax credit coordinator provided information to OPEGA, and they met with its analysts to discuss details of the program and answer questions.  The positive outcome of the evaluation should bolster efforts to extend the credit’s sunset date, and serve as a springboard to initiate discussions with policy makers about extending the program to non-income producing properties. 

Tribal Preservation Grants 

The HPF grants fund preservation programs at tribal offices ensure preservation of tribal sites and cultural traditions.  Examples of the diversity of work accomplished with this annual funding include:   

  • Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians - Regarding unity with other tribes, a treaty educational and cultural event was held on October 2, 2021 to reflect on the 1863 Treaty with the tribe and the US Government. The event included working with the seven hereditary chiefs to the Red Lake Nation and holding planning sessions with representatives from each of the original treat tribes (Red Lake, Turtle Mountain, Little Shell, and Metis). The event, also, included historical talks about the treaty, culture, and history of the treaty and the participant bands. Approximately 200 people participated in the event, which also featured the publication of a treaty information brochure that was widely acclaimed for its educational value.  
  • Pueblo of Zuni - The Zuni THPO organized and chaired a session presented during the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program’s Annual Reporting Meeting on January 21, 2021. The title of the session was “Place, Time, and Consciousness in the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program”, with the sessions purpose being highlighting the Native American history and historical resources associated with the Glen Canyon Dam.
  • Suquamish Tribe - On October 2, 2020, the National Park Service and the Park Cultural Landscape WASO staff members in Seattle interviewed the THPO to document the Suquamish Tribe THPO activities and their work to nominate the Doe-Kag-Wats Traditional Cultural Landscape to the National Register of Historic Places.

View all grants on NPS.gov.