Oklahoma State Historic Preservation Office

09/14/2026

Jason and Lynda stopped by Medicine Park today to look at the dam project and discuss mortar colors. On schedule to be completed in October.

09/14/2026

National Trust for Historic Preservation Preserve Route 66 Grant Programs: Deadline November 12

These grants provide financial support to public agencies, tribal governments or nonprofit organizations to preserve and interpret historic places along the Route 66 corridor, while the Preserve Route 66 Legacy Business Grant Fund provides financial support to businesses to spur economic development along the Route 66 corridor.

Visit https://savingplaces.org/grants for more details and to apply.

Funding from the National Trust is awarded to nonprofit organizations and public agencies, and the majority of our funding is awarded for planning and education projects through our National Trust Preservation Funds grant program.

09/12/2026

The Charles and Bertha Blevins House, located at 1838 North Norfolk Avenue in Tulsa, will unveil their historic marker commemorating the role of the property in Tulsa’s civic and political activities on September 19th at 2:30 p.m.. The marker was funded through the Oklahoma Historical Society’s Civil Rights Trail Grant which was created to support projects that highlight Oklahoma’s Civil Rights legacy. SHPO staff will also be in attendance to recognize the property’s placement in the National Register of Historic Places. We hope to see you there!

09/11/2026

The SHPO staff has had a busy and productive week. A big thank-you to the Louisiana SHPO for hosting the SHPO Connect 2026. Michael enjoyed connecting with colleagues from across the country and exchanging ideas. Kristina spent time in Guthrie this week at a disaster planning workshop sponsored by Oklahoma Emergency Management. Jason and Lynda visited Villa Teresa early in the week and a house in northeast OKC later in the week. A full week of collaboration, learning, and preservation in action.

09/10/2026

Section 106 reviews are one of the most important tools for protecting Oklahoma’s rich history and historic places. Each year, thousands of projects move through the process -2,670 in FY 2024 alone – and only 1-2% result in adverse effects.

Most concerns are solved long before they become a problem. We work with project sponsors to:
• Shift alignments
• Choose better materials
• Monitor ground disturbance

Actual loss of a historic property is extremely rare. And if it does occur, we make sure it is carefully documented so its story remains part of Oklahoma’s story.

09/08/2026

Preservation Partners: Who are they?

A small group of leaders across the country recognized that the American preservation movement was in a precarious state in the mid 20th century. Grassroots efforts were emerging, but they lacked national coordination, resources, and advocacy. In response, these leaders envisioned an organization that could unify and support preservation activity nationwide. Their efforts culminated in the establishment of the National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP) in 1949, created through a congressional charter signed by President Harry Truman on October 26 of that year.

The charter defined the Trust’s role as helping to “facilitate public participation in the preservation of sites, buildings, and objects of national significance or interest.” True to that mission, the NTHP accepted its first historic property—Woodlawn Plantation in Virginia —in 1951, signaling the beginning of its stewardship work.

Today, the NTHP operates as a private, nonprofit organization with a broad national reach. Its programs include the National Main Street Center (with Oklahoma as an active participant), America’s 11 Most Endangered Places (a list on which Oklahoma has been well represented), grant programs supporting planning and rehabilitation (many awarded to Oklahoma projects), the National Treasures initiative, and field offices across the country that provide on the ground assistance.

With more than 750,000 members, supporters, and friends, the NTHP has grown into exactly what its founders hoped for: a vigorous national leader guiding an expansive preservation movement that continues to shape communities across America.

National Trust for Historic Preservation

09/04/2026

Santa Fe Depot, Ponca City

The planning is done. The review process (Section 106) is done. The construction is complete. We finally get to see and experience the finished product.

Congratulations to Ponca City and the development team. A preservation win for the city and a preservation win for the state.
National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers

09/02/2026

Help Preserve Route 66

The National Trust for Historic Preservation is providing grants to both legacy businesses and non-profit entities to help preserve Route 66 while also highlighting hidden stories and places along the route. https://savingplaces.org/grants

- Grants from the Preserve Route 66 Grant Fund provide financial support to public agencies, tribal governments or nonprofit organizations to preserve and interpret historic places along the Route 66 corridor. https://savingplaces.org/preserve-route-66-grant-fund-guidelines (Deadline: November 12)

- Grants from the Preserve Route 66 Legacy Business Grant Fund range from $2,500 to $10,000 and are designed to help business owners advance projects in the following three categories:
Capital Improvements * Planning * Marketing and Outreach
https://savingplaces.org/preserve-route-66-legacy-business-grant-fund (Deadline: November 12)

Funding from the National Trust is awarded to nonprofit organizations and public agencies, and the majority of our funding is awarded for planning and education projects through our National Trust Preservation Funds grant program.

09/01/2026

Today has us thinking about past efforts to save the Gold Dome.

08/28/2026

Congratulations, Dr. Hunter!

Earlier this week, NATHPO presented its Excellence in Tribal Historic Preservation Award to Dr. Andrea Hunter (Osage Nation), Director of the Osage Nation Historic Preservation Office and THPO.

In presenting the award, Osage Nation HPO Archaeologist Caitlin Nichols told attendees how Dr. Hunter started as the Osage Nation’s first THPO in 2007, and she grew the Historic Preservation Office operation from a staff of 1 to a staff of 20. Dr. Hunter has also developed programs to help members of the Osage Nation participate in historic preservation and to forge deeper and personal connections between members and their historic places & cultural heritage. Dr. Hunter is also actively involved in making sure the voices of the Osage Nation are heard as the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation seeks to undermine Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.

NATHPO is proud to honor Dr. Hunter and her many years of hard work and dedication on behalf of the Osage Nation and for serving as an example for THPOs across the country to follow as they strive to do the work of protecting sacred places and preserving cultural heritage.