Pennsylvania Historic Preservation

Blog of the Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office

January 25, 2023
by Guest Contributor
3 Comments

Call this Piece of Pennsylvania History “Home!”

In an effort to preserve one of Pennsylvania’s historic homes, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) is marketing for sale, removal, and preservation a two-and-a-half-story, 3 bedroom, one bath, Shingle-Style house with many beautiful original features including wooden … Continue reading

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

Metal truss bridge over stone and grass.

April 27, 2022
by Guest Contributor
2 Comments

Bridge Preservation and Education: A Site Visit to the Inwood Iron Bridge

In 2019, the historic Inwood Iron Bridge in Union Township, Lebanon County was disassembled for relocation.

October 27, 2021
by Guest Contributor
4 Comments

Precious Metal Preservation: the Lift

Nestled amongst the oak-covered hills of rural northwest Pennsylvania until very recently sat an iron artifact from a bygone era. Built in 1876 by the Wrought Iron Bridge Company of Canton, Ohio, this elegant, metal arch structure is what is … Continue reading

October 14, 2020
by Shelby Weaver Splain
1 Comment

Telling a Fuller Story about African American History in Pennsylvania’s Chesapeake Bay Watershed

Earlier this month, the National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP) announced a new pilot project with PHMC, PA DCNR, the states of Maryland and Virginia, and National Park Service Chesapeake Bay to identify, document, and map sites and landscapes in … Continue reading

June 17, 2020
by Hannah Harvey
0 comments

Cultural Resource Management at Graeme Park

In the winter/spring of 2020, the PA SHPO initiated a pilot project to build a toolkit that will help the PHMC develop cultural resource management plans for the properties that we operate. 

June 10, 2020
by Elizabeth Shultz
2 Comments

Dip into History: Five Historic Pools and Swimming Holes in Pennsylvania

Summer is definitely here in Pennsylvania! And when the weather turns hot and humid, my mind turns to swimming and lazy days by the water.

Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commision Logo

March 27, 2020
by PHMC
4 Comments

PA SHPO Environmental Review: Continuity of Operations during COVID-19 State Office Closures

UPDATE: Due to public health measures to limit the spread of COVID-19, effective March 30, 2020, we are no longer accepting mailed submissions. Any previously mailed submissions should be resubmitted through PA-SHARE. Please use the process outlined for sending submissions … Continue reading

October 23, 2019
by Guest Contributor
1 Comment

Ironing Out the Wrinkles: Finding a New Life for the Inwood Iron Bridge

When travelling between Schuylkill and Lebanon County, some may prefer to skip Interstate 81 and take the more scenic route past Swatara State Park.  The park is relatively recent in its formation, created in 1987, and DCNR continues to make … Continue reading

Two photographs of two wood CCC buildings.

July 10, 2019
by Elizabeth Shultz
0 comments

Laurel Hill State Park and HistoriCorps: Partnership for Preservation

The HistoriCorps Laurel Hill State Park Mess Hall project relied on a crucial partnership between Pennsylvania’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation’s Friends of Laurel Hill, the 501(c)3 preservation organization HistoriCorps, and HistoriCorps’ workforce of volunteers who arrived on the jobsite from homes all over the country. Continue reading