General Information 

The Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) is part of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC). The PHMC is the Commonwealth's official history agency, and the Executive Director is designated as the State Historic Preservation Officer. Oversight of the PHMC is provided by a board of Commissioners appointed by the Governor.

The SHPO administers the state's historic preservation program as authorized by the Constitution of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania History Code, the Pennsylvania Historic District Act, the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, and various other federal laws and regulations.

Our work is guided by the Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Board and the Commonwealth's historic preservation plan, #PreservAtionHappensHere, Pennsylvania's Statewide Historic Preservation Plan, 2018-2023.  The PA SHPO's current  Annual Report (PDF) provides additional information about our programs and preservation outcomes.

The SHPO's core responsibilities include:

• To undertake the duties of Pennsylvania's State Historic Preservation Office;
• Consult with state and federal agencies and their applicants in accordance with the Pennsylvania History Code and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (36 CFR Part 800);
• Establish and maintain Historic Preservation Review Board;
• Prepare statewide historic preservation plan every five years;
• Administer the National Register of Historic Places program;
• Populate PA-SHARE, Pennsylvania's State Historic & Archaeological Resource Exchange;
• Administer the Certified Local Government and Local Historic District Act Programs;
• Review and assist property owners applying for the State and/or Federal Rehabilitation Tax Credits;
• Administer the Keystone Historic Preservation Grant program;
• Administer the Historical Marker program;
• Provide technical assistance and training to the public, local governments, state and federal agencies, historical societies and other professional organizations throughout the Commonwealth.
  

Archive and Research Room of the Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office

Hours

Beginning, September 1, 2021, the Archive and Research Station will be open to the public by appointment only on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM.

Please note that 3:00 PM is the latest time appointments will be scheduled for the day. The PA SHPO Archive and Research Station will be closed on all state holidays and may also be closed during different periods throughout the year.

This schedule is subject to change.

Scheduling an Appointment

The PA SHPO research station is currently limited to one person.

PA SHPO strongly recommends that researchers consult PA-SHARE prior to scheduling an appointment.  Guest and Basic accounts in PA-SHARE are free. Instructions for setting up your PA-SHARE account are available here: Signing In and Subscribing to PA-SHARE.

To make an appointment, email Tina Webber at twebber@pa.gov with the following information:

• Day and time of appointment request
• Reason for your visit
• If you would like to consult the paper files.

Please note: If you will need to access to archaeological information, you must have assigned archaeological privileges before you arrive for your appointment. For information about requesting these privileges, visit the Request Archaeology Privileges page.

After receiving your appointment request, PA SHPO will email you with a confirmation of your appointment date and time along with a copy of PA SHPO Archives and Research Room User Policy and PA-SHARE Disclaimer and Terms & Conditions. This form can either be signed and emailed back or printed and provided at the time of the appointment.

If you need to consult the paper files, you will need to complete the PA SHPO Archives & Research Room request form sent with your confirmation email and return to PA SHPO before the visit.  During your visit, requested files will be limited to ten (10) at any one time. Additional files will be provided in increments of ten (10).

Location and Arrival

The Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office is located in the Commonwealth Keystone Building, 400 North Street, 2nd Floor, in Harrisburg. Limited metered street parking is available on Forster Street. A public parking garage is located three blocks away at the intersection of Forster and N 7th Streets.

Enter the Commonwealth Keystone Building from Forster Street. Access elevators from the plaza level and take to the 2nd Floor. When you arrive at the 2^nd floor lobby, please call the contact information included in your confirmation email or follow the information located next to the telephone. Someone from the PA SHPO will escort you to the Research Station.

Researchers will be required to sign in and sign out. Lockers are available outside the research station for personal belongings.  Items such as coats, hats, handbags, hip packs, briefcases, books, and computer cases are prohibited at the research station.  A locker will be assigned by an attendant.

Reproducing Documents

Researchers are not permitted to attach any external devices to the Research Station computer or download any files from PA-SHARE to the computer's hard drive, CD drive or to any external device. Researchers are not permitted to email documents to themselves by opening another browser window at the research computer station.

Film and digital cameras, laptops, tablets, and cell phones are permitted in the Research Room at no additional cost.

Copies of documents may be printed from PA-SHARE for a fee of $0.25 per copy.  Please note that a two-sided copy will be counted as two copies.  Payment for copies in the appropriate amount must be made by check or money order payable to the COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA. Prices are subject to change without notice. All copy orders must be paid on the day of your visit prior to departure.