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Oklahoma’s Statewide Preservation Plan
2025–2034 Statewide Preservation Plan Goals & Objectives
How We Can All Help in the Historic Preservation Movement
Every citizen, agency, and nonprofit in Oklahoma can help advance the historic preservation movement. Although the State Historic Preservation Office is at the center of historic preservation, it is not the only avenue through which action can be completed. The following objectives and action items are only a small sampling of the ways we all can help and will be used as a checklist for the preservation movement in Oklahoma. When an objective or action item has been completed, you will see it look like this: It will be crossed out.
Goal #1: Oklahoma’s archaeological and historic resources will be valued and appreciated as important assets
- Expand effective working relations with representatives from media
- Follow preservation-related organizations on social media platforms
- Offer tours of historic properties and share the history of the community
- Provide articles highlighting organization’s activities specific to historic resources
- Advertise preservation-related events via multiple media outlets
- Coordinate for a series of articles/stories on historic preservation
- Utilize the Oklahoma Historical Society’s communications division to reach out to media in the state
- Increase resources such as social/digital media to transmit information
- Provide content for preservation related organizations on social media
- Update materials to target youth, young adults, and underrepresented populations in the professional aspects of the preservation and archaeological fields
- Create websites that serve as a clearinghouse of information related to training, internships, and educational opportunities offered by preservation partners across the state
- Create historic preservation-related online content
- Learn how to better utilize Facebook tools for more effective outreach via social media
- Create a social media series to interest followers, e.g., Where in the world is our survey coordinator?, What inspires you to save historic places?, and What inspires you to visit historic places?
- Provide underrepresented communities with preservation-related resources
- Provide details to local organizations/government/SHPO pertaining to underrepresented communities
- Attend activities sponsored by underrepresented communities
- Create interpretive panels specific to underrepresented groups in the community
- Produce multilingual publications specific to preservation-related topics and issues
- Recognize and address barriers to local participation from underrepresented and under resourced communities
- Invite underrepresented communities to project meetings
- Create a webinar series highlighting one or many underrepresented communities/preservation projects
- Survey underrepresented community resources
- Make more information about resources widely available in various platforms
- Meet with local librarian to determine what they have in their holdings and what their needs are
- Meet with the local economic development organization to discuss historic preservation resource needs (pamphlets, workshops, etc.)
- Keep websites up-to-date specific to historic preservation
- Offer virtual and in-person programming
- Establish cost estimates for rehabilitation of existing buildings and share with government officials (elected and appointed)
- Continue to update and disseminate preservation-related maps and databases
- Connect architectural and thematic surveys to map data to make information more accessible to the public
- Promote the importance of archaeological resources in Oklahoma
- Develop an archaeology trunk and other presentations for school-aged children
- Continue to develop and disseminate publicly accessible interpretations of archaeological resources
- Present and disseminate talks given by researchers and professionals that communicate non-sensitive information learned from archaeological projects for public audiences
- Encourage researchers and professionals to develop and disseminate publicly accessible interpretations of archaeological resources
- Complete a 106 online submission portal
- Upon completion: attend training and implement its use
- Provide for submission of NRHP nominations, CLG applications and progress reports, Tax Credit Applications, architectural surveys, and additional program documentation as overseen by the SHPO
- Develop archaeological statewide standards
- Respond to surveys distributed during standards update process
- Provide data for use in GIS mapping
- Attend public meetings about the standards updates
- Assist in the development of the standards via review and comment on the draft standards
- Survey state and federal agencies, tribal nations, THPOs, and interested parties
- Promote strategies to protect significant archaeological and historic resources following natural or man-made disasters
- Form local preservation and disaster preparedness task forces composed of local professionals tasked with addressing gaps in local disaster preparedness efforts
- Raise awareness of disaster risks through community meetings and workshops
- Utilize NPS seismic and flood adaption standards and guidelines when applicable
- Create disaster preparedness plans for use by Oklahoma communities
- Create model disaster mitigation guidance for use in publicly funded historic preservation and disaster mitigation plans related to housing, public facilities, and historic sites
- Conduct periodic training and orientation on integrating historic preservation with local disaster planning
- Provide training resources on disaster resilience to community development directors, preservation partners, facility managers, museums, and owners of historic properties
- Develop a fact sheet in conjunction with Oklahoma Emergency Management (OEM) on what to do following a disaster in Oklahoma
- Promote the SHPO office in media as a point of contact following disasters
- Participate in OEM’s emergency manager training
- Collaborate with THPOs
- Notify THPOs when you find an archaeological site/evidence
- Work with tribal governments to promote the cultural history of the property or community
- Seek nominations for endangered places from tribal governments
- Provide information about descendants in cemeteries
- Work with THPOs as their knowledge of tribal histories is unmatched
- Tribal governments host training for non-tribal members
- Workshop presented by Tribal Nations specific to identifying TCPs
- Organize/facilitate monthly meetings between SHPO and interested THPOs
Goal #2: Oklahoma’s rich and diverse heritage, both tangible and intangible, will be identified and preserved
- Update historic contexts (prehistoric and historic)
- Contract to write a historic context update for the SHPO
- Sponsor the development of context documents
- Develop topics for historic contexts with agency participation
- Prepare more NRHP nominations
- Prepare a NRHP nomination for an important historic resource in the community
- Cosponsor the preparation of a nomination
- Prepare nominations as part of Section 106 mitigation
- Create informative resources and toolkits for guiding local efforts in NRHP preparation
- Increase the number of archaeological site nominations
- Create a SHPO training course on how to write a National Register of Historic Places nomination
- Prepare in-house nominations focusing on groups identified in statewide survey as needing better representation
- Improve all data collection resources (forms, manuals, etc.)
- Restructure SHPO’s website for more ease of use
- Update manuals/forms with relevant information and resources
- Redevelop, promote, and utilize the Oklahoma State Register
- Develop the rules for an updated State Register program
- Develop a website to solicit nominations to the State Register
- Conduct a webinar about the State Register and its importance to historic preservation
- Nominate a property to the State Register
- Develop, conduct, and update archaeological, architectural, and thematic surveys
- Make recommendations to local government and/or SHPO of areas to be evaluated
- Promote survey results and their implications to local policymakers, developers, and community residents
- Recommend survey topics to the SHPO via their project suggestion form
- Cosponsor the preparation of a survey
- Maintain a complete list of historic properties within community
- Encourage integration of survey and documentation data into state and local planning efforts
- Conduct in-house surveys
- Create a training course on how to conduct surveys for Oklahoma
- Develop parameters and implement statewide cemetery survey
Goal #3: Advance best practices and broaden participation among stakeholders, decision makers, and citizens through effective outreach efforts
- Develop a more robust GIS program for preservation activities
- Use online mapping provided by SHPO and other governmental agencies
- Provide data for use in GIS mapping
- Provide SHPO a GIS layer for historic properties under their purview (update it cyclically)
- Make GIS-based mapping of historic resources in disaster prone areas widely available and accessible to property owners and preservation partners
- Make GIS data (layers) available for use by others
- Develop additional StoryMaps using maps created by the SHPO
- Increase preservation-related programming in rural communities.
- Communicate with land advocacy groups regarding conservation easements
- Advocate for and/or identify the historic and archaeological resources in a rural community
- Integrate the identification of farmlands, ranches, and agricultural resources as part of a broader disaster resilience plan
- Promote grant funding for rural areas
- Promote the Centennial Farm & Ranch Program at county historical societies and rural libraries
- Identify and document properties within rural communities including rural cemeteries
- Encourage more Main Street and CLG participation in areas that are not represented by this programming
- Meet with elected officials to discuss the importance and benefits of state preservation programs in your community using statistical data proved by SHPO/Main Street
- Bring in speakers to meetings or organizations to promote the benefits of historic preservation
- Consult with local government/commissions concerning agency projects
- Have representatives attend Capitol Days to highlight the SHPO’s CLG program
- Survey the Oklahoma Main Street participants to determine how SHPO can assist their organizations in promoting historic preservation
- Develop a new countywide CLG program to help smaller communities
- Increase organizations/agencies preservation advocacy efforts
- Become a member of historic preservation-related organizations
- Express support to elected officials for creation of a state grants program for historic buildings
- Support the creation of a state grants program for rehabilitating historic buildings
- Provide data on the economy of rehabilitation versus new construction with local officials and state legislators
- Identify pro-preservation legislators and encourage support
- Promote the availability of local, state and national level historic preservation incentives in public workshops and meetings
- Review existing regulations, such as zoning variance relief, parking and building codes, to make adaptive use and preservation projects more feasible
- Develop a webinar on successful advocacy efforts
- Create a how-to advocacy series So You Want to Save a Building?
- Bring in specialists from partner organizations such as NTHP and NPS to discuss strategies such as sustainability, public policy development, and local legislation creation
- Develop and promote curricula for schools
- Create a lesson plan about historic preservation or an important historic property in your community
- Express support to school board for lessons on historic preservation and its importance
- Partner with preservation-related entities in offering internships and preservation trade opportunities for students and young adults
- Organize social events for youth and young professionals that promote involvement opportunities as well as the mission of local preservation organizations
- Create a Junior preservation/historian program to research and document projects related to local history and historic sites
- Develop lesson plans on historic preservation and historic buildings for teachers
- Create an adopt-a-building program for elementary school students
- Promote historic preservation topics for History Day
- Provide historic preservation training
- Attend preservation-related training offered by governmental bodies
- Offer AIA, AICP, etc. credit for continuing education opportunities specific to historic preservation
- Provide best practices workshops for historic property owners
- Host and/or attend hands-on workshops specific to preservation topics: masonry repair, window restoration, wood floor rehabs
- Develop toolkits on community engagement and consensus building methods and processes
- Provide training specific to each of the SHPO’s program areas
- Create, prepare, and promote local, state, and national preservation awards
- Nominate local projects and/or people for state awards
- Host an unveiling event at your historic property
- Nominate a significant property and/or person for a national award
- Local government, Main Street, or local business creates an awards program to recognize historic preservation efforts in their community
- Agency creates an award program to recognize historic preservation efforts in their program area
- Evaluate current awards program and develop new program, if applicable
- Provide technical assistance (non-106)
- Host workshops geared toward development community specific to best practices and offer continuing education as part of the session to encourage attendance
- Seek input from professionals in the field on projects prior to implementation
- Use best practices information from other federal and state agencies
- Provide technical assistance (Section 106)
- Offer training opportunities for staff that implement Section 106 programs
- Promote successful 106 mitigation measures through state/federal agencies
- Make Section 106 data more easily accessible
- Provide database of successful mitigation measures
- Continue publication of historic preservation-related online newsletter or similar
- Write an opinion piece on historic preservation for the newsletter
- Subscribe to electronic newsletter provided by a preservation group
- Provide articles or article ideas to SHPO
- Agency provides articles on successful rehabilitation of historic resources, updates on ongoing projects, and information on funding mechanisms within agency divisions
- SHPO staff develops, contributes articles to, and publishes electronic newsletter
- Coordinate with other interested parties to provide articles for newsletter
- Mitigate adverse effects on non-federal property
- Follow permit applications at City Hall
- Advocate for retention of historic resources
- Seek public input before planning projects
- Use professionals to plan and implement preservation related projects
- If a historic resource must be demolished, release a public statement before taking the action
- Document historic resources that have been lost on an annual basis
- Map demolition of historic resources
- Highlight all the non-adverse effects the SHPO has issued
- Promote what buildings have been lost annually on website
GOAL #4: Historic preservation will be well-integrated and supported with local planning and development practices to strengthen and sustain communities
- Improve Section 106 regulations training
- Train staff on outcomes of programmatic agreements so that steps are not missed
- Upon signing mitigation documentation, track the outcomes to ensure targets are being met
- Update Oklahoma’s economic impact study
- Review results of current (dated) study and consider/discuss/emphasize the positive effects of preservation in community/state
- Approach local groups, government entities, and SHPO requesting a new/revised study be prepared
- Cosponsor the update to the economic impact study
- Provide data to consultant/firm conducting the economic impact study
- Work with Tulsa Foundation for Architecture, AIA, or other organizations to hire consultant to conduct study
- Promote results of study statewide
- Increase number of qualified consultants in the state
- Attend a SHPO National Register training course to learn how to prepare an NRHP nomination
- Prepare a successful NRHP nomination to qualify to become a consultant in the state.
- Host workshop in your historic building on what you need to become a consultant
- Utilize universities to include projects in courses that allow students to prepare NRHP nominations or conduct surveys as part of their curriculum
- Update the consultant form to provide for more specific specialties
- How-to trainings specifically to cultivate SOI qualified consultants
- Encourage local governments to become CLGs
- Offer to serve on historic preservation commission
- Attend historic preservation commission meetings
- Schedule meetings with local elected officials to discuss the benefits of the program for the community (using data from SHPO/NPS)
- Bring in the SHPO to discuss the benefits of becoming a CLG
- Distribute information to all cities and counties within Oklahoma promoting the CLG program
- Strengthen community preservation initiatives
- Attend neighborhood association meetings
- Propose preservation activities for neighborhood, e.g., wood window repair workshop for homeowners
- Attend candidate forum nights and ask questions specific to historic preservation
- Promote funding opportunities offered by agency
- Develop and provide training that allows citizens to “get back to the basics” of historic preservation
- Develop rules, application, and evaluation process, and monitoring process for a statewide development grant program
- Promote (encourage) local landmark designations
- Appeal to local government to create legislation allowing designation
- Submit an application for local landmark designation
- Cosponsor a local nomination
- Support legislation creating local designation
- Create local legislation allowing for local designation
- Offer workshops on preparing documentation
- Bring in speakers on the importance of local landmark designations for CLGs and their commissions as well as the public
- Develop a list of local landmark designations within the state
- Develop draft language for local landmark designation for use by communities
- Encourage the use of the Secretary of the Interior (SOI) Standards
- Read the SOI Standards at the NPS website or watch a recorded SHPO workshop to learn more about the Standards
- Share how you utilized the Standards in the update of your home with your neighbors and friends
- Organize homeowner fairs, home tours, local marketing programs to raise knowledge of Standards
- Invite SHPO to give presentation to property owners on Standards
- Local government produces design guidelines and widely distributes them
- Develop workshops for professionals involved in rehabilitation of historic buildings
- Develop workshops for nonprofessionals involved in rehabilitation of historic buildings
- Increase the use of Historic Preservation Tax Incentives
- Buy a historic building and rehabilitate using SOI Standards (serve as the local example)
- Talk with elected officials about the economic impact to the community specific to HPTI
- Hold meetings in a federal tax credit building and promote it as part of the meeting
- Invite SHPO to give presentation to property owners about the program
- Lease space in historic properties rehabilitated using historic tax credits
- Engage with overlooked stakeholders (young people, artists, seniors, housing advocates), etc.
- Provide information for CLGs on successful tax incentives projects within their communities via e-newsletter
- Develop a “hot topic” series for developers addressing the problems and solutions
- Promote alternative methods of historic preservation
- Attend one of the SHPO workshops on proper repair techniques in historic preservation
- Hire local preservation-minded contractors, craftsmen, and artisans
- Host a SHPO event about historic preservation techniques in your community
- Demonstrate how you put preservation techniques into use on your property
- Digitize agency records
- Collect oral histories in underrepresented communities
- Share information about upcoming historic preservation projects
- Develop a how-to series on preservation techniques
- Compile a list of preservation-minded contractors, craftsmen, and artisans; make it searchable online
- Local Financial Incentives
- Pursue and secure grants and other forms of financial and technical assistance when undertaking research, surveys, and other documentation work
- Partner with statewide economic development, planning and environmental groups to create new incentives and educational programs related to historic preservation and revitalizing neighborhoods
- Explore nontraditional funding sources for preservation incentives and programs (CDBG, USDA, arts, housing organizations, etc.) and promote within communities
- Advocate the use of HUD and other funding sources to support housing rehabilitation and conservation
- Compile lists from CLGs nationwide on what local incentives are available
- Prepare a list of preservation friendly funding sources
- Bring in an expert on tax incentives from the IRS to speak to owners/developers
