Railroads played a vital role in Pennsylvania’s economic development, particularly during the Industrial Revolution and beyond. They facilitated the transportation of goods, raw materials, and people, fostering industrial growth, urbanization, and the expansion of markets. The construction of railroads like the Beech Creek Railroad and the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburgh Railroad, that primarily transported coal and other materials to homes and factories throughout Pennsylvania, played a significant role in the industrialization of the state.
Category: Preservation Partners (Page 2 of 28)
This is part of a biannual blog series highlighting the agreement documents executed by PA SHPO in accordance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and its implementing regulations.
Partnership is often a key ingredient for a preservation outcome. The value of partnership and collaboration, the importance of preservation networks, and leveraging resources are all central ideas of Pennsylvania’s statewide historic preservation plan, Historic Preservation: The Keystone of Community. Continue reading
Preservation Pennsylvania’s statewide conference is back – in mini-form! – with Preservation Forward: A Statewide Heritage Gathering in Johnstown on June 1 & 2, 2025.
Earlier this month, PA SHPO staff made their annual trek to Washington, D.C. to meet with other SHPOs and preservationists from across the country as part of National Historic Preservation Advocacy Week.
This is part of a biannual blog series highlighting the agreement documents executed by PA SHPO in accordance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and its implementing regulations.
Archaeology at York’s Lebanon Cemetery
Two years ago, the Pennsylvania Archaeological Council (PAC) teamed up with Pennsylvania Hallowed Grounds (PAHG) to record Midland Cemtery in Swatara, PA . The goal of this pilot project was to document a cemetery using PAC’s membership and archaeological methods that could then be applied to other cemeteries with similar needs.
Frequently, PA SHPO staff receive inquiries regarding a homeowner’s historic property and their wish to list it in the National Register of Historic Places.
Many times, interesting family stories passed down from one generation to the next are tied to the property. As fascinating as most of the stories are, not all will hit the threshold of the National Park Service required criteria to qualify the property as significant at the local, state or national level.
However, before the level of review needed to make that call, there are numerous documents and items that PA SHPO staff need to verify the eligibility of a resource. Unfortunately, since there is a degree of deeper research required and the process may seem daunting, many homeowners stop after the first phone call or email.
Hopefully, this post about the Determination of Eligibility process and next week’s post about what we need to evaluate a historic resource will help make it all seem a little less scary.
At the end of July, PennDOT celebrated the relocation of a historic bowstring truss bridge in Schuylkill County onto Schuylkill River Greenways’ trail system with a ribbon cutting ceremony.
October is Pennsylvania Archaeology Month! Every October, events and programs are held across Pennsylvania to celebrate the commonwealth’s deep past.
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