Oklahoma State Historic Preservation Office

10/22/2026

November will be here before you know it! Don’t miss your opportunity to attend the November 2026 SHPO Workshops. Visit https://www.okhistory.org/shpo/register to register now!

Register for programs from the Oklahoma State Historic Preservation Office.

10/15/2026

Closing Message

The NHPA has shaped preservation in Oklahoma and across the nation. In a year of major anniversaries—NHPA, HTC, Route 66, and the nation’s 250th—momentum matters.

Speak loudly about preservation’s impact. Share why laws protecting historic properties matter. Highlight how tax credits revitalize communities. Tell your story—because preservation depends on people who care.

10/15/2026

HTC at 50 Years

The Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives program celebrates 50 years in 2026. Nationally, it has helped preserve 50,000+ historic properties and generated major private investment.

Early Oklahoma projects included the Adams Hotel (Tulsa), Maney House (OKC), Pythian Building (Tulsa), and Victor Block (Guthrie). Activity surged in the mid 2000s and remains strong.

From 2001–2025, Oklahoma saw $1.1 billion in qualified expenditures—transforming schools into housing, auto buildings into restaurants, hotels into apartments, and retail into renewed retail.

HTC remains the nation’s most effective preservation and revitalization tool.

10/15/2026

CLGs in Action

CLGs lead powerful preservation work:

• Oklahoma City — Completed a survey and NRHP nomination for the Farmer’s Market neighborhood, supporting both Section 106 and HTC opportunities.
• Ardmore — Developed multiple historic preservation activity books for children.
• Tulsa — Surveyed the IDL over multiple years, leading to NRHP district nominations and numerous HTC projects.

CLGs are preservation champions—and Oklahoma’s preservation successes depend on them.

10/15/2026

Section 106 Success Stories

Section 106 doesn’t stop projects—it helps shape better outcomes. In 2026, Oklahoma highlighted several successful mitigation projects:

• Fort Reno POW Bridge (USDA ARS) — Extensive research into POW history accompanied the replacement of the historic bridge with a wider modern structure.
• US 62 Improvements (ODOT, Cherokee County) — Mitigation included full documentation of the Sequoyah Indian Weavers Association Building while road improvements continued.

These examples show how Section 106 supports both progress and preservation for the 1–2% of projects with effects.

10/15/2026

Historic Preservation Review Committee

The Review Committee meets quarterly to evaluate proposed NRHP nominations. Members include citizen representatives and professionals in history, architecture, architectural history, historic archaeology, and prehistoric archaeology.

Recent listings include Rabbit Creek School (Randlett), Waylan’s Ku Ku Burger (Miami), Thomas Smith Cemetery (Broken Arrow vicinity), and 21 Crossing and Ranch (Waynoka). Nominations come from owners, Section 106 actions, and tax credit projects—each one meaningful in its own way.

Want to attend a meeting? Visit okhistory.org/shpo/hprc to find out when the next meeting will be.

10/15/2026

Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives (HTC)

The Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives program encourages private investment in rehabilitating historic buildings—one of the nation’s most successful revitalization tools.

From 2001–2025, Oklahoma completed 189 projects totaling $1.32 billion in development costs. Projects range from commercial and hotel uses to housing, multi use, and office conversions.

The program is administered by the National Park Service and IRS, in partnership with SHPO.

Explore the HTC program at okhistory.org/shpo/taxcredits.

10/15/2026

Certified Local Governments (CLG)

Certified Local Governments demonstrate a community’s commitment to preserving local heritage. As part of NHPA amendments, SHPOs must allocate at least 10% of federal funds to CLGs for projects such as surveys, NRHP nominations, design guidelines, education, and training.

Oklahoma’s CLGs include Anadarko, Ardmore, Enid, Guthrie, Muskogee, Norman, Oklahoma City, Ponca City, Sapulpa, and Tulsa—each contributing vital preservation work across the state.

Learn more about CLGs at okhistory.org/shpo/clg.

10/15/2026

Section 106

Section 106 requires federal agencies to consider how their projects affect historic properties. Imagine downtown Oklahoma City or McAlester if Section 106 had existed before major demolitions. Imagine Tulsa without a highway dividing Greenwood. Imagine Tribal Nations if cemeteries and sacred sites had been considered before construction.

Section 106 gives us—federal agencies, SHPOs, THPOs, and consulting parties—the chance to pause, evaluate, and mitigate harm before action occurs. In Oklahoma, 98–99% of projects require no further review, meaning only 1–2% result in findings of effect. These numbers mirror national trends.

Section 106 works—and has worked remarkably well since 1966.

Learn more about Section 106 at okhistory.org/shpo/section106.

10/15/2026

National Register of Historic Places (NRHP)

The earliest NRHP nominations in Oklahoma came in the 1960s, recognizing foundational sites such as Fort Wash*ta, Cherokee National Capitol, Camp Nichols, Fort Sill Historic District, Spiro Mound Group, Wheelock Academy, Fort Gibson Historic District, Wash*ta Battlefield, Sequoyah’s Cabin, and multiple archaeological sites.

The NRHP is truly the heart of our program—every decision begins with determining eligibility. With over 1,400 listed properties and new listings added quarterly, Oklahoma continues to honor the events, people, places, and archaeological resources that shape our history.

Explore more about the NRHP by visiting okhistory.org/shpo/nationalregister.