National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers

10/21/2026

*Save the Date* Mark your calendars for March 8-11, 2027 for National Historic Preservation Advocacy Week in Washington, DC!

Co-hosted by Preservation Action and NCSHPO, in collaboration with national partners, Advocacy Week will feature the latest in preservation policy, tours, networking opportunities, and congressional office visits.

This is a critical time for historic preservation.

Stay tuned for registration information and more details coming soon.



National Alliance of Preservation Commissions
National Trust for Historic Preservation
National Trust Community Investment Corporation
National Preservation Partners Network
American Cultural Resources Association - ACRA

10/20/2026

Loving this story map Maryland Historical Trust!

Today marks the 60th anniversary of the National Historic Preservation Act, which established a framework for protecting our nation's historic places.

Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act helps federal agencies think about how their projects may affect historic places and work with communities to avoid, minimize, or mitigate harm. So, what could Maryland lose if Section 106 changes? Our new StoryMap looks at eight Maryland case studies to show how this process makes a difference across the state, exploring what could be at stake if the rules change.

🔗 t.ly/Iq4kH



Photo: Fells Point Fun Festival in the late 1960s with a "STOP THE ROAD" banner. This was protesting the construction of the Jones Falls expressway through downtown Baltimore. (Society for the Preservation of Federal Hill and Fells Point)

10/19/2026

NCSHPO is in DC today along with national historic preservation colleagues at the National Trust for Historic Preservation annual Law Conference.

(pictured: Tad Heuer, Foley Hoag LLP)

10/15/2026

Learn more about Section 106!

https://ncshpo.org/resources/section-106/

We found this photo in the valise that Hugo the SHPO Hippo left at Jefferson Landing State Historic Site. We're still piecing together Hugo's past, but the photo implies that he may have had a hand in the passage of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966.

Today is the sixtieth anniversary of the NHPA (or "the Act" to those who work under its auspices). It is the foundation of historic preservation in the US. The Act created the National Register of Historic Places, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, the network of State Historic Preservation Offices, and the Section 106 review process. Subsequent amendments added the Historic Tax Credit program, Tribal Historic Preservation Offices, the Historic Preservation Fund, and the Certified Local Government program.

We noticed that the National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers cropped Hugo out of its photo of the NHPA signing on its website. We're not sure why. https://ncshpo.org/resources/federal-historic-preservation-program/

10/14/2026

Federal proposal weakens protections for religious, cultural, and historic landmarks and bypasses the federal government’s obligation to consult with states and TribesPhoenix, AZ – On Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Governor Katie Hobbs and Arizona Tribal leaders responded to a federal proposal that ...

10/07/2026

Want faster Section 106? Start here.

10 practical ways to make federal review faster, more predictable, and more effective — without sacrificing meaningful consultation.

--> Start earlier
--> Use the tools already available
--> Strengthen capacity
--> Measure what’s actually causing delay

The goal isn’t less review. It’s better review.

Read more, link in comments.

10/02/2026

The recent Senate-introduced American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026 would dramatically reshape the Section 106 process under the National Historic Preservation Act, with significant implications for how federal agencies consult on historic and cultural resources.

In response to the legislation, NCSHPO Executive Director Erik Hein said:

“Unfortunately, our Senators took a swing and completely missed. This Medusa of a bill creates layers of complications and inconsistencies and, in an admirable but misguided attempt to achieve bipartisan support, blames everyone but the federal government for the problems it seeks to solve. By all accounts, delays are driven by federal indecision, staffing shortages, and a lack of clarity about how to navigate the Section 106 process.”

“This proposal chooses to remedy these problems by deflecting blame, imposing arbitrary deadlines and punishments, creating unfunded mandates for SHPOs, and expanding agency authority to destroy historic properties without meaningful consultation. It is a deeply flawed proposition that largely ignores the countless recommendations offered by the professionals who do this work and have seen firsthand where the problems are.”

Read more --> link in comments

09/26/2026

09/24/2026

Today the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) notified the National Park Service that it is terminating consultation on the development of a Section 106 agreement for the Triumphal Arch Project in Washington, DC, and Virginia. Pursuant to its responsibilities under the National Historic...

09/23/2026

The laws and policies that protect historic places don’t defend themselves.

This morning at the National Preservation Summit in DC, the National Trust for Historic Preservation launched the Historic Preservation Defense Fund, an initiative to strengthen legal defense, policy advocacy, and community capacity when historic preservation protections are challenged.

Learn more at link in comments.

National Trust for Historic Preservation