Author: mmcnish

Megan McNish is the Eastern Region Community Preservation Coordinator for the Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office. Megan is graduate of Gettysburg College, where she received a bachelors degree in history, and West Virginia University, where she received a masters degree in Public History.

Large brick building at intersection of two streets with cars and small trees in front.

Out with the Model Ordinance in with the Ordinance Guidebook and Workbook

September 23, 2026 / mmcnish / 2 Comments

For many years, the Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office (PA SHPO) had a model historic preservation ordinance to help Pennsylvania’s municipalities protect historic places in their communities. The tool, while it had its uses, proved to be unequal to the task of accounting for the wide variety amongst Pennsylvania’s more than 2,500 municipalities. The model ordinance helped communities answer the question ‘how can we protect historic places,’ but it did not help communities address why they want to protect historic places or determine what residents in their communities valued.

The PA SHPO’s new Preservation Ordinance Guidebook and Workbook seeks to address not only how but also what and why to help communities develop implementable preservation ordinances which meet community needs.

Side by side images of two large buildings.

‘Take me out to the ball game!’: Pennsylvania’s Historic Baseball Stadiums

April 10, 2024 / mmcnish / 1 Comment

With a new season of baseball upon us and what I regard as the real start of spring, it’s an opportune time to look back at Pennsylvania’s rich baseball history.

#PreservAtionHappens at the Local Level with CLG Grants

June 21, 2023 / mmcnish / 2 Comments

Each year, the PA SHPO awards grants to the Commonwealth’s Certified Local Governments (CLG) for the purpose of advancing local historic preservation activities.

Retelling the Stories of Existing Resources: Adding New Areas of Significance to National Register Properties

November 23, 2022 / mmcnish / 2 Comments

Researching the history of a building can feel like trying to do a jigsaw puzzle from a thrift store without the box. You might get most of the pieces to fit together so that you can tell the story of that place, but some are still missing, leaving gaps in the narrative.

If you’re anything like me, you might find those gaps frustrating, but they’re also opportunities to learn things you never could have imagined about a place.

Author: mmcnish

Out with the Model Ordinance in with the Ordinance Guidebook and Workbook

‘Take me out to the ball game!’: Pennsylvania’s Historic Baseball Stadiums

#PreservAtionHappens at the Local Level with CLG Grants

Retelling the Stories of Existing Resources: Adding New Areas of Significance to National Register Properties

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