Diana Welling, Ohio's State Historic Preservation Officer

05/28/2026

HOW OLD DO YOU THINK THIS IS?

We love finding cool things in our archives. We found a Trimble TSC1 Handheld Survey Controller Kit.

The Trimble TSC1 (Trimble System Controller) was introduced to support high-precision GPS and conventional surveying. The TSC1 integrates with both base and rover GPS receivers, allowing real-time or postprocessed data collection in the field. Its primary functions include stakeout procedures, RTK (Real Time Kinematic) surveys, data logging, and supporting conventional total station operations.

So guess the year this TSC1 model is from!! We will share the answer in the comments!

05/27/2026

To celebrate Historic Preservation Month, we gathered under the iconic Waffle Ceiling for our annual Waffles Under the Waffle Ceiling event—bringing together staff and partners for a sweet tradition we look forward to every year.
This year’s treat was extra special with delicious scoops from 🍦 Johnson's Real Ice Cream adding to the fun!
Here’s to preserving places, building partnerships, and sharing a little sweetness along the way.

05/26/2026

Boy, have we been busy!

A huge thank you to everyone who went out across Ohio to document Revolutionary War veterans’ graves. Your hard work is helping preserve and honor these important stories.

We’re also proud to see this effort highlighted in the news, including interviews featuring Krista Horrocks.
The reporting portal officially closed yesterday, May 25, in commemoration of Memorial Day.
Learn more about this incredible effort:

📍 Spectrum News: https://spectrumnews1.com/oh/columbus/news/2026/05/25/revolutionary-war-veterans--graves-ohio

📍 PBS NewsHour: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/ohio-volunteers-locate-and-honor-graves-of-revolutionary-war-veterans

Thank you for helping us keep history alive. ❤️🤍

America 250-Ohio is documenting the graves of Revolutionary War veterans buried across the state.

05/26/2026

Congratulations Chris Hune as the new CEO of Columbus Landmarks Foundation! The OH SHPO is excited to work with you to continue preserving the history of Columbus!

We are excited to announce Chris Hune as the new CEO of Columbus Landmarks!

Chris brings decades of leadership experience, deep community involvement, and a passion for preservation as we prepare to celebrate the organization’s 50th anniversary.

Throughout her career, Chris has been a champion for community-building and civic engagement, serving in leadership roles across nonprofit, public, and private sectors - including leadership with Team Fishel, Homeport, and The German Village Society.

As Columbus Landmarks enters this exciting new chapter, we look forward to working alongside Chris to continue preserving the places, stories, and character that make Columbus unique.

Please join us in welcoming Chris Hune to Columbus Landmarks!

05/19/2026

📢 Now Open: Save America’s Treasures Grant Opportunities (FY2026)

Please help us spread the word! The Department of the Interior (DOI), in partnership with the National Park Service (NPS), has announced two Save America’s Treasures (SAT) Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFO):

Preservation Grants – P25AS00469
Collections Grants – P25AS00508

The Save America’s Treasures program, established in 1998, supports the preservation of nationally significant historic properties and collections that convey our nation’s rich heritage for future generations.

💰 Funding Overview
Congress has appropriated $25.5 million to support both Preservation and Collections projects.

🏛️ Project Types
Preservation Projects:
Support planning and “bricks and mortar” work on historic buildings, structures, sites, and objects.
Eligible properties must be:
Individually listed in the National Register of Historic Places at the national level, OR a contributing resource in a nationally significant historic district, OR designated as a National Historic Landmark

Collections Projects:
Support conservation of nationally significant collections, including artifacts, documents, sculptures, and works of art.

🤝 Program Administration
Preservation grants are administered by DOI/NPS
Collections grants are administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)
Additional program partners include the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)

📅 Deadline
Applications are due June 16, 2026, at 11:59 PM ET

🔗 How to Apply
Preservation Grants (P25AS00469): Apply via Grants.gov
Collections Grants (P25AS00508): Apply via Grants.gov

Full eligibility requirements and application details are available in the NOFOs on Grants.gov.

⏳ Note: The application window is open for approximately 32 days—early preparation is strongly encouraged.

05/18/2026

Historic places invite us to slow down, look closer, and reconnect with creativity, community, and ourselves. In a world that rarely stops moving, they offer something increasingly rare: wonder.

Our 2026 Coloring Book (PDF download) features 14 intricate illustrations inspired by National Trust Historic Sites and members of the Historic Artists’ Homes and Studios program.

Part mindfulness exercise, part armchair travel, part celebration of preservation—it’s a chance to experience the joy of historic places from home.

This coloring book can be printed and colored by hand, or downloaded and colored digitally using the app or software of your choice. Enjoy!

Download the coloring book: https://ow.ly/Tkq850Z0oKE

05/18/2026

SHPO Admin Department Manager, Krista Horrocks, has been out in the field lately! Why you ask? She’s been filming for the America 250-Ohio Revolutionary War Veterans Grave Project!!

Documenting Revolutionary War Veterans collecting portal closes May 25, 2026, so get out there Ohioans!! If you’re in the greater Cincinnati and greater Youngstown areas, we need your help the most!

Visit ohiohistory.org/revwarvet-graves 🪦

05/16/2026

As we celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, our goal for Ohio Open Doors 2026 is simple: 250+ events with at least one event in every Ohio county. Help us showcase the stories and places that make Ohio unique.

Do you help care for a historic place in Ohio?

Consider opening your doors to the public for Ohio Open Doors 2026, a statewide celebration of the stories, spaces and places that make Ohio communities unique.

From behind-the-scenes tours to special programs, Ohio Open Doors events offer experiences visitors can’t get any other time.

As we celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, our goal is 250+ events across all 88 counties. Make sure your site makes the list!

Early bird registration deadline: July 13, 2026

Learn more and register at ohiohistory.org/opendoors

05/14/2026

05/14/2026

It’s always exciting to see Ohio preservation projects recognized nationally.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation recently featured the rehabilitation of the historic Sullivan Building in Newark, Ohio — one of Louis Sullivan’s famed “jewel box banks.” Through years of restoration and adaptive reuse, the building has been transformed into a vibrant community asset and welcome center for Explore Licking County.

Projects like this showcase the impact of historic preservation in strengthening communities, celebrating architectural heritage, and bringing historic places into modern use.

Read more from the National Trust: https://savingplaces.org/stories/sullivan-building-jewel-box-bank-in-ohio-is-rehabilitated-for-modern-use

The Sullivan Building in Newark, Ohio, is rehabilitated and will be used as a welcome center for the local tourism bureau.