Pennsylvania Historic Preservation

Blog of the Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office

January 11, 2023
by allidavis
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A Little Something for Everyone: Pennsylvania’s Newest Markers

The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) recently approved 37 new historical markers, making this one of the largest number of new markers in the program’s history.

December 21, 2022
by Guest Contributor
4 Comments

More Cool PA Places Found in Year 2 of Baseline Survey

The Pennsylvania Baseline Survey Team is excited to share another year of findings! Between January 2022 to October 2022, our five Year 2 Baseline Survey teams surveyed in 18 counties and recorded 6,663 new resources in 396 municipalities. Quite an … Continue reading

December 5, 2022
by Shelby Weaver Splain
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PA SHPO’s Keystone Internships for Summer 2023

Are you exploring the field of historic preservation and looking for some real-world experience? The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission’s Keystone Internship Program provides opportunities to pursue your professional growth and contribute to sharing Pennsylvania’s rich heritage with the public.

Group of nine people standing in a cemetery.

October 19, 2022
by Casey Hanson
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Community Archaeology at Midland Cemetery

Last fall the State Museum of Pennsylvania hosted their annual workshop in archaeology entitled Hidden Stories: Uncovering African American History through Archaeology and Community Engagement. The theme was born out of the acknowledgement that African Americans are vastly underrepresented in … Continue reading

Man standing outside next to a machine removing soil.

October 5, 2022
by Guest Contributor
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Meet the Paleo-Digger

October is Archaeology Month! Today’s post by Guest Contributor PennDOT archaeologist Steve McDougal covers using a non-traditional method for field tests: the Paleo-Digger. Every archaeological survey poses different conditions and challenges. For PennDOT’s SR 22/322 safety improvement project in Northern … Continue reading

Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commision Logo

July 20, 2022
by Shelby Weaver Splain
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PA SHPO is Hiring a Review Archaeologist

Are you interested in joining a proactive and dedicated team of preservationists, historians, and archaeologists?  The Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office (PA SHPO) is seeking a Historic Preservation Specialist with a discipline in archaeology within the Environmental Review division.  

Stone building with slides sloped to top in a wooded and grassy area.

June 15, 2022
by Guest Contributor
1 Comment

Exploring African American Heritage in Pennsylvania’s DCNR Parks and Forests

Pennsylvania is rife in human history – if you’re in Pennsylvania, consider yourself surrounded with nearly 20,000 years of it! So, it should come as no great surprise that its 121-state park and over 2 million-acre forest system, administered by … Continue reading

Fourteen small pieces of painted ceramics.

June 8, 2022
by Justin McKeel
2 Comments

The Archaeology of a Village Blacksmith Shop

In 1823, a blacksmith named John W. Miller moved into what is now southeastern Blair County with his wife, Mary, and their three-year-old son, James. In their first years there they built their house and a small blacksmith shop along … Continue reading