WELCOME TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION
The South Dakota State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) works to advocate for the preservation of historic properties and archaeological sites across South Dakota through providing access to funding opportunities, education, consultation, research, and promotion of heritage tourism. SHPO also manages the National Register of Historic Places program in South Dakota and reviews federal, state, and local government activities to understand their affects on cultural and historic resources. Below you will find SHPO's most recent news and deadlines, as well as a more comprehensive list on what the office works on. For any questions, comments, or concerns, please click the contact page and reach out!
SHPO NEWS AND DEADLINES:
Statewide Historic Preservation Questionnaire
We have begun preparation for a new Statewide Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) for Historic Preservation – the ways we recognize and preserve South Dakota's historic places, cultural landmarks, and archaeological sites. We want the public to make their voices heard as we initiate this process!
SHPO invites all South Dakotans to complete the questionnaire, linked above, and lend us your thoughts on various historic preservation matters – what you would like to see nominated to the National Register of Historic Places, things you consider challenging in the preservation field, what our office should prioritize in these next five years, and more. We know that historic preservation is a collaborative endeavor, and our staff regularly work with a wide variety of organizations and individuals around South Dakota, so we wish this new plan to reflect the views of many stakeholders.
Please submit your survey questionnaire by September 21st.
Thank you for taking time to contribute to the survey!
WHAT DOES SHPO DO?
The South Dakota State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) manages a wide range of Historic Preservation matters throughout the state of South Dakota. Some of the tasks our office performs include:
- - Surveying and maintaining inventories of historic properties throughout the state. Take a look at our CRGRID for surveyed architectural properties in the state.
- - Nominating eligible properties to the State and National Register of Historic Places.
- - Providing public information, education, training, and technical assistance relating to historic preservation. Our 'Documents and Forms' page has a wide variety of materials regarding the different type of properties in South Dakota.
- - Working with local governments across the state in creating local historic preservation programs and Certified Local Governments.
- - Administering grant and tax incentive funding programs to assist in the stabilization, rehabilitation, and restoration of historic properties. These programs include the Deadwood Fund Grant, the State Property Tax Moratorium, and the Federal Tax Incentive.
- - Administering a state historical marker program. A current list of historical markers can be found here.
- - Working with federal and state agencies and local governments in carrying out their historic preservation responsibilities, especially on projects that might affect historic properties, under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, and SDCL 1-19A-11.1.
- - Hosting an archaeology camp with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that teaches students about the field of archaeology, why archaeological digs are done, and what we can learn from the artifacts found.
- - Administering a Student Essay Contest open to all 4th grade students in South Dakota. The topic for the essay contest is 'This Place Matters' where students write about a place in South Dakota that's at least 50 years old and explain to us why that place matters to them.