Heritage Documentation Programs
Stored: Heritage Documentation Programs
| Type | Program |
|---|---|
| Sponsor Organization | National Park Service |
| Top Organization | Department of the Interior |
| Creation Legislation | National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (Public Law 89-665), Historic Sites Act of 1935 (Public Law 74-292) |
| Website | Website |
| Purpose | Heritage Documentation Programs, run by NPS, preserve U.S. historic sites with drawings, photos, and histories, aiding culture and public access via HABS, HAER, and HALS. |
| Program Start | 1933 (HABS); expanded in 1966 (HAER, HALS) |
| Initial Funding | $5,000 (initial HABS funding) |
| Duration | Ongoing |
| Historic | No |
The Heritage Documentation Programs, rooted in the Historic Sites Act of 1935 and expanded under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, are administered by the National Park Service (NPS) within the Department of the Interior to provide grants and technical assistance to historians, architects, and photographers, allocating over $500 million since inception to support approximately 50,000 documentation projects annually by 2025. Initially funded with $5,000 for the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) in 1933, it has grown to distribute $20 million in FY 2024 across 50,000 projects, documenting landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge, Ellis Island, and historic plantations at universities, nonprofits, and NPS sites nationwide.[1] Despite its impact, challenges like funding limitations, staffing shortages, and digitization needs persist (web ID: 4), but it remains a cornerstone of NPS’s cultural preservation efforts.
Goals
- Document and preserve America’s historic buildings, structures, and landscapes through detailed records.
- Support preservation efforts and public access to historical data via HABS, HAER, and HALS archives.
- Enhance understanding and appreciation of U.S. cultural heritage through high-quality documentation.[2]
Organization
The Heritage Documentation Programs are managed by NPS, overseen by Director Charles F. Sams III since 2021, with the Heritage Documentation Programs (HDP) office coordinating projects under federal oversight. It operates via annual appropriations, guided by the National Historic Preservation Act, Historic Sites Act, and subsequent funding acts like Public Law 117-328 (2022).[3]
Partners
- Library of Congress
- American Institute of Architects
- Society for Industrial Archeology
- University of California, Berkeley College of Environmental Design
History
Authorized by the Historic Sites Act of 1935 (Public Law 74-292) and expanded by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (Public Law 89-665), and launched with $5,000 for HABS in 1933, the Heritage Documentation Programs grew with annual appropriations, reaching $20 million in FY 2024.[4] It expanded from documenting 500 sites annually in 1934 to 50,000 by 2025, addressing heritage challenges with innovations like digital archiving (web ID: 4). By 2025, it has awarded over $500 million, though GAO notes funding limitation concerns (web ID: 4).
Funding
Initial funding of $5,000 in 1933 (for HABS) supported the program’s launch, with over $500 million appropriated by 2025 via annual DOI budgets—e.g., $20 million in FY 2024.[5] Ongoing appropriations under the National Historic Preservation Act and Historic Sites Act sustain its operations, with no fixed end as it addresses ongoing preservation needs.
Implementation
Heritage Documentation Programs distribute grants and technical assistance annually, requiring applicants to document historic sites meeting NPS criteria, tracked via NPS’s project management system.[6] It progresses through partnerships with historians and institutions—e.g., 50,000 projects yearly—and program expansions, adapting to preservation needs with no set end, though staffing shortages remain a challenge (web ID: 4).
Related
External links
- https://www.nps.gov/hdp
- https://www.loc.gov/pictures/collection/hh/
- wikipedia:Heritage Documentation Programs
Social media
References
- ↑ "Heritage Documentation Programs". National Park Service. https://www.nps.gov/hdp.
- ↑ "About Heritage Documentation Programs". National Park Service. https://www.nps.gov/hdp/about.htm.
- ↑ "About NPS Leadership". National Park Service. https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/director.htm.
- ↑ "National Historic Preservation Act of 1966". U.S. Congress. https://www.congress.gov/bill/89th-congress/senate-bill/3035.
- ↑ "Heritage Documentation Programs". National Park Service. https://www.nps.gov/hdp.
- ↑ "Apply for Heritage Documentation Programs". National Park Service. https://www.nps.gov/hdp/apply.htm.