Waterford Foundation

What is the National Historic Preservation Act?

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On October 15, 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the National Historic Preservation Act into law. In response to large public calls, this act was enacted to preserve historically and culturally significant sites across the United States. It sets the federal standards for historic preservation. Sixty years later, this law and the many important processes and aspects it enacted make up a foundation for how historic preservation works in the United States. In celebration of the 60th anniversary of the National Historic Preservation Act, read on below to learn more about some of what this law enacted!

Secretary of Interior Standards:

The Secretary of Interior Standards are national standards for historic preservation projects established by the Secretary of Interior Standards, as directed by the National Historic Preservation Act. The standards are broken into four sections: preservation, rehabilitation, restoration, and reconstruction. These provide the standards that historic preservation projects and professionals follow across the country, including here in Waterford.

National Register for Historic Places and the National Historic Landmark Programs:

The National Historic Preservation Act establishes the National Register of Historic Places and the National Historic Landmark Programs. The National Register of Historic Places is a list of historic resources across the Country including buildings, sites, districts, structures, and objects. Properties listed on the National Register are able to receive help in preserving the historic resource, including tax credits for restorations following Secretary of Interior Standards. The National Historic Preservation Act also establishes the eligibility requirements for both of these programs. Both are run by the National Park Service under the Secretary of Interior. To learn more about the National Historic Landmark program, check out the Notes from the Preservation Desk from January linked here!

State Historic Preservation Officers:

The National Historic Preservation Act says that each state is to have a State Historic Preservation Officer appointed by the governor that leads the State’s historic preservation program including nominating historic resources to the National Register of Historic Places, implement a statewide historic preservation plan, administer federal assistance for historic preservation given to the state, be involved in leading the Section 106 process, advise and cooperate with federal and local governments and agencies on historic preservation processes in the state, and provide public education and technical assistance in historic preservation. In Virginia, the State Historic Preservation Office is the Virginia Department of Historic Resources.

Historic Preservation Fund:

The Historic Preservation Fund is a grant program established to assist in funding historic preservation projects in the United States with the assistance of the State Historic Preservation Offices and National Park Service. Some of the Historic Preservation Fund grants at the federal level include Disaster Recovery Grants, Tribal Heritage Grants, Save America’s Treasures Grant, and African American Civil Rights Grants. 

Advisory Council on Historic Preservation:

The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation is an independent federal agency that advises the President and Congress on matters relating to historic preservation. The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation also leads federal agencies in compliance with historic preservation programs. Council members are made up of members of the general public, historic preservation experts, a state governor, a mayor, member of an Indigenous tribe, federal agency heads, the Architect of the Capital, and ex-officio representatives of national historic preservation organizations. You can learn more about the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation here.

Federal Historic Preservation Departments:

Another requirement of the National Historic Preservation Act is that federal agencies have to establish a historic preservation program inside the agency to identify, evaluate, and help preserve historic resources in partnership with the Secretary of the Interior.

Section 106:

Section 106 is a historic resource identification and mitigation review process. It requires undertakings to slow down and identify historic resources in the project area, how they might adversely affect these resources, and with the parties familiar with the affected resources create a plan forward that carries out the needed undertaking and preserve historic resources for future generations. Section 106 is not about stopping construction or denying needed projects, but producing a mutually beneficial outcome. You can learn more about Section 106 and what is happening with the process at this link.

Sources and Where to Learn More: