In 1966, Congress passed the National Historic Preservation Act and acknowledged the importance of protecting our nation’s cultural heritage against unchecked government-sponsored development.  This law enabled the creation of State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPOs) to support preservation in each state and maintain a list of cultural historic resources in perpetuity.  Since the mid-twentieth century, SHPOs have developed a number of programs and materials to support preservation in their respective states.

The National Council of State Historic Preservation Offices states and provides the following responsiblies for State Historic Preservation Officers (SHPOs):

• Conducting a comprehensive survey of historic properties
• Maintaining an inventory of historic properties
• Administering state programs of Federal assistance
• Identifying and nominating eligible properties to the National Historic Register
• Advising and assisting Federal, State and local governments in matters of historic preservation
• Preparing and implementing a statewide historic preservation plan
• Providing public information, education, training and technical assistance
• Working with local governments in the development of local historic preservation programs and help them become “certified local governments”
• Provide consultation for Federal undertakings under the Section 106 provision of the National Historic Preservation Act