Preservation Organizations & Resources

Our comprehensive directory of historic and cultural resource organizations provides detailed information for  organizations located in each State and Province in the United States and Canada dedicated to the preservation of historic structures and buildings, the protection and care of cultural resources, and the revitalization of downtown districts and the preservation of main street and community.  Interested in listing your organization at no charge?   We list all not-for-profit organizations dedicated to historic preservation, neighborhood revitalization and cultural resource preservation for FREE.  To list your organization, please click here.

Please click on a category below to view
historic organizations and resources:

•  A) Historical Societies & Preservation Organizations This directory lists over 4,500 preservation organizations, historical societies and programs dedicated to historic preservation and cultural resource preservation in the United States and Canada. •  B) State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) The State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) administers programs and services specific to their particular State including the National Register of Historic Places programs (administered through each SHPO), as well as, but not limited to, tax incentives, easements, grants, technical assistance, Section 106 review, and education programs. This directory lists SHPO offices for each State in the US. •  C) Certified Local Government Commissions Certified Local Government Commissions include City / County Historic Preservation Offices, Landmark Commissions, Economic Development Offices and other government offices and commissions charged with identifying and designating city/county landmarks, as well as regulating changes to designated buildings. •  D) Downtown and Mainstreet Revitalization Organizations Over 1,100 organizations and programs dedicated to the preservation and promotion of downtowns, main streets, and community planning as an essential part of a sustainable society are currently listed in our comprehensive directory. •  E) Educational Programs Our Educational Programs directory provides information on all institutions of higher learning that have degree programs and/or offer certification in the study of historic preservation, cultural resource preservation and other resources related to historic preservation and cultural resource management education. Choose from the specific program of study or resource type below: •  (1) Undergraduate & Certificate Programs in Historic Preservation •  (2) Graduate Programs in Historic Preservation •  (3) Programs with Specialization in Historic Preservation & Related •  (4) Resources for History and Cultural Resource Educators

Interested in listing your historic organization, downtown and main street organization, or program of higher learning?  All listings are FREE for not-for-profit organizations - please click here to submit your information at no cost.

OUR FAVORITE PRESERVATION & RESTORATION BOOKS: Essential books that should be in the resource center  of historical societies and museums.

Historic Preservation: An Introduction to Its History, Principles, and Practices (2nd Edition) by Norman Tyler  Federal Historic Preservation Laws: The Official Compilation of U. S. Cultural Heritage Statutes The Politics of Historic Districts: A Primer for Grassroots Preservation by William Edgar Schmickle A Primer for Local Historical Societies by Dorothy W. Creigh A Field Guide to American Houses by Virginia & Lee McAlester A Field Guide to America's Historic Neighborhoods and Museum Houses: The Western States by Virginia & Lee McAlester Museum Strategy and Marketing: Designing Missions, Building Audiences, Generating Revenue and Resources by Philip Kotler Historic House Museums: A Practical Handbook for Their Care, Preservation, and Management by Sherry Butcher-Younghans For our full directory of preservation-related books, please visit our Preservation Bookstore by clicking here.