Welcome to the Wisconsin Historical Society's Historic Preservation Commission Training. This website is the only comprehensive online training program of its kind for preservation commissioners in the United States. It has been designed for new commissioners, but it is also a useful tool for experienced commissioners who have a need for more advanced information.

This training is supported in part by a Preserve America grant administered by the National Park Service, Department of the Interior.

What You Will Learn

This program will help you learn more about historic preservation and the roles and responsibilities of preservation commissions. Although this training is specifically designed for Wisconsin, much of the content is broadly applicable to the work of preservation commissions nationwide. Be advised that each historic preservation commission operates under its own unique local ordinance and may have special considerations as a result.

By completing this training, you will be able to:

• Describe the functions, operations, and responsibilities of a preservation commission
• Identify key  preservation laws, statutes, and programs
• Explain historic preservation’s economic benefits for your community
• Apply new design review and decision-making knowledge to your own commission processes 

How to Use this Training Program

• New commission members: Begin with Chapter 1. Use the back and next arrows at the bottom of each page to move through each part of the training.
• Experienced commission members and repeat visitors: Choose any topic by clicking on a chapter link below or on the right side of your screen.

Training Contents

• Chapter 1: History of Historic Preservation

• Chapter 2: Preservation Laws and Programs

• Chapter 3: Community Benefits of Preservation

• Chapter 4: Starting a Preservation Commission

• Chapter 5: Preservation Commission Operations

• Chapter 6: Preservation Commission Budgets and Finances

• Chapter 7: Preservation Commission Processes

• Chapter 8: Preservation Commission Design Guidelines

• Chapter 9: Preservation Commission Design Review

• Chapter 10: Preservation Community Relationships