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About
the Ohio Historic Preservation Office
The
Ohio Historic Preservation Office is the official historic preservation agency
of the state of Ohio. Part of the
Ohio Historical Society, it has developed since 1967 when the society was
designated to manage responsibilities delegated t the state by Congress in the
National Historic Preservation Act of 1966.
Ohio Historic Preservation Office:
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Identifies
historic places and archaeological sites.
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Nominates
eligible properties to the National Register of Historic Places.
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Reviews
rehabilitation work to income-producing National Register properties for
federal investment tax credits.
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Monitors
federally assisted projects for effects on historic, architectural and
archaeological resources.
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Consults
on the conservation of buildings and sites.
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Offers
educational programs and publications.
Headquartered
in Columbus, the office has a staff of archaeologists, historians,
architectural historians, a historical architect, a planner and others with
professional expertise in preservation-related fields.
The office is funded in part by an annual grant from the U.S.
Department of the Interiors
Historic Preservation Fund. The
Ohio Historical Society, State of Ohio and many other public and private
sources match the federal funds.
Certified
Local Governments - Getting
Involved
Communities
can participate more actively in the state historic preservation program by
becoming Certified Local Governments. To
become certified, a unit of local government must have an approved program for
recognizing and protecting its historic, architectural and archaeological
resources.
The
Ohio Historic Preservation Office helps local governments establish
certifiable preservation programs, offering advice on identifying historic,
architectural and archaeological resources; developing a preservation plan;
nominating eligible properties to the National Register of Historic Places;
and protecting local resources. Certified
Local Governments can apply for matching grants awarded by the Ohio Historic
Preservation Office to help fund projects like these and others.
Recording
Ohio's
Resources
The
Ohio Historic Preservation Office is compiling a permanent record of the
states
built environment. The Ohio
Historic Inventory (OHI) records places of historic or architectural merit.
The Ohio Archaeological Inventory (OAI) records prehistoric and
historic archaeological sites.
Records
describing more than 70,000 properties in all parts of the state are kept at
the Ohio Historic Preservation Office in Columbus.
Computerized information from both inventories aids preservation
planning and research on history, architecture and archaeology.
The
National Register of Historic Places lists buildings, sites, structures and
objects worthy of being preserved. This
official list includes places of national, state and local importance. In Ohio, anyone may nominate a property to the National
Register. Nominations are made
through the Ohio Historic Preservation Office and are reviewed by the Ohio
Historic Site Preservation Advisory Board.
Members of the board are appointed by the governor; they include
interested citizens and professionals in preservation-related disciplines.
Final decisions on National Register listing are made by the U.S.
Department of the Interior, which maintains the National Register.
Listing a property on the National Register does not affect an owner's right to alter or sell it unless there is some form of
federal involvement.
Protecting
Our Heritage
The
National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 made the preservation of our
historic, architectural and archaeological resources a national policy.
Consistent with this policy, the federal government requires that
projects and programs it funds or licenses in Ohio be reviewed by the Ohio
Historic Preservation Office to determine what effects, if any, they will have
upon historic architectural, or archaeological resources.
The
Ohio Historic Preservation Office reviews more than 8000 federally assisted
undertakings a year to see that alternatives are considered in any action that
would damage or destroy properties listed on, or eligible for, the National
Register. When there is no prudent
and feasible alternative, the office may agree to the loss of a significant
property if steps adequate to reduce the impact of its destruction are proposed.
Rehabilitation
Investment Tax Credits
Owners
who rehabilitate income-producing properties listed on the National Register of
Historic Places are eligible to apply for federal investment tax credits on
qualified expenses. Work must be
certified as conforming to the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation, which are in use
nationwide. The Ohio Historic
Preservation Office counsels owners on applying for certification and conducts
preliminary meetings, site visits and project assessments as needed to help them
qualify for the tax credit. Applications
are submitted to the U.S. Department of the Interior for final approval.
Planning
for the Future
One
of the goals of the Ohio Historic Preservation Office is to prepare and
implement a comprehensive statewide historic preservation plan, A Future for
Ohio=s
Past.
The plan will organize existing information about the state's
historic, architectural and archaeological resources so that it can be used to
set future priorities for the identification, valuation and protection of our
state's
historic resources.
Conserving
Ohio's
Resources
Free
technical advice is available from our experienced staff.
Services include a preservation research library, Building Doctor Clinics
and publications including the Free
technical advice is available from our experienced staff.
Services include a preservation research library, Building Doctor Clinics
and publications including the Old-Building Owner's
Manual.
Educational
Programs
Periodic
workshops and other educational programs help inform Ohioans about historic
preservation. Ohio Historic
Preservation Month, celebrated in May, is cosponsored by the Ohio Historic
Preservation Office and local organizations throughout the state who plan tours,
events and exhibits. Outstanding
contributions to the preservation of Ohio=s
historic, architectural and archaeological resources are recognized annually
with Ohio Historic Preservation Office Awards.
Ohio Historic Preservation Office publications such as A Bibliography
of Ohio Contract Archaeology: 1946-1985 aid researchers.
Write or call if you would like to receive our free newsletter, Ohio
Preservation.
Contact
the Ohio Historic Preservation Office or your regional office to become involved
in preserving Ohio's historic, architectural and archaeological resources.
Active support by citizens throughout the state is vital to the future of
Ohio's past.
Ohio
Historic Preservation Office
567
East Hudson Street
Columbus,
OH 43211-1030
(614)
297-2470
FAX
(614) 297-2496
The
publication of this fact sheet has been made possible in part by a grant from
the U.S. Department of the Interior's National Park Service, administered by the
Ohio Historic Preservation Office of the Ohio Historical Society.
U.S.
Department of the Interior regulations prohibit unlawful discrimination in
departmental federally assisted programs on the basis of race, color, national
origin, age or disability. Any
person who believes he or she has been discriminated
against in any program,
activity, or facility operated by a recipient of federal assistance should write
to:
Director, Equal Opportunity
Program
U.S. Department of the
Interior
National
Park Service
P.O. Box
37127
Washington, D.C.
20013-7127
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