Pennsylvania Historic Preservation

Blog of the Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office

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February 27, 2023
by Shelby Weaver Splain
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PA SHPO Special Announcement! We’re Hiring a Preservation Incentives Division Manager

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 manager to lead the Preservation Incentives Division and help advance PA SHPO priorities. This … Continue reading

February 1, 2023
by Karen Arnold
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Exciting news for the President Pumping Engine House

Readers in the Lehigh Valley saw some interesting news stories throughout the month of January as the one of the boilers from the Ueberroth Zinc Mine Historic District (1995RE50357) was removed from the former American Atelier furniture factory on Front … Continue reading

Small stone church with large corner tower surrounded by grass.

December 7, 2022
by Karen Arnold
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The Union Project: Planning for a Community Asset

At the start of the 20th century, Pittsburgh’s Highland Park neighborhood was becoming a bustling place. The leaders of the United Presbyterian Church decided to build a new church, which became the Second United Presbyterian Church, at the corner of … Continue reading

Two story stone house with front porch and three roof dormer windows.

June 1, 2022
by Karen Arnold
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PA SHPO’s Inaugural Historic Property Inspection Site Visit

Not long ago, PA SHPO announced a new program, the Historic Property Inspection Program to improve communication with between the property owners of some of Pennsylvania’s most significant historic treasures under preservation covenant with our office.

Large stone building with green copper dome on roof.

February 16, 2022
by Karen Arnold
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Introducing the Historic Property Inspection Program

One lesser-known duty of the PA SHPO office is the management of protective preservation covenants on historic properties throughout the commonwealth. 

December 1, 2021
by Karen Arnold
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Just in time for the Holidays, A “new” set of Shutters for the Gemeinhaus

This winter, visitors to Bethlehem – the City in Northampton County, Pennsylvania – may see some new changes in the Historic Moravian Bethlehem National Historic Landmark District.  Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites just completed the restoration of 88 shutters on … Continue reading

October 13, 2021
by Guest Contributor
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Finding the Fort: The Juniata College Field School at Fort Halifax Park – Part 1

On our first day at our field school in archaeology, we searched through the soil for mountain peaks: or rather, mountain peak-shaped rocks. That’s the tip we were given for finding flakes -fragments of stone produced by Native American flintknapping.

Stacked packages wrapped in brown paper and tied with string.

August 4, 2021
by Guest Contributor
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The Mystery at Rodef Shalom

Last year in what was entirely a stroke of good fortune, Rodef Shalom Congregation in Pittsburgh was awarded a Keystone Construction grant from the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission to replace the sewer system that runs under our Henry Hornbostel-designed … Continue reading

House surrounded by scaffolding in a garden.

June 16, 2021
by Karen Arnold
1 Comment

Safety: A Priority for all creatures at these Keystone Grant sites

I was surprised earlier this spring when Mary Sorenson, Executive Director of the Centre County Historical Society notified me that their Keystone-funded roof replacement at the Centre Furnace Mansion was delayed.  Of course, delays are commonplace for many of our … Continue reading

Colorized historic postcard showing wood church building.

April 7, 2021
by Karen Arnold
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Preserving Pennsylvania’s Stick Style Architecture: Old Lutheran Church in Franklin

The mid-nineteenth century oil boom is synonymous with northern Venango County, which brought population and construction growth to the city of Franklin.