State Historic Preservation Office
About the Wisconsin State Historic Preservation Office
The Society serves as Wisconsin’s federally designated State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). The SHPO helps people connect to the past through historic places. We coordinate state and federal preservation programs that help the people of Wisconsin preserve historic places that are important to their communities. We also maintain state records for historic properties and archaeological sites.
State Archaeology Program
The SHPO maintains state records on archaeological sites, protects sites on public lands, administers property tax exemptions and provides access to research and public education about Wisconsin’s archaeological resources.
Learn More
Burial Sites Preservation
Human Burials, Mounds, and Cemeteries
Learn about the state and federal laws that protect burial sites, Native American mounds, and other places where human remains are buried.
Burial Sites PreservationAbout the State & National
Registers of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is managed by the National Park Service and is the nation's official list of historic places worthy of preservation. The State Register is Wisconsin's official list of state properties determined historically significant to Wisconsin heritage. The State Historic Preservation Office coordinates both the State and National Registers in Wisconsin.
Highlighted Properties from the State & National Register
Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits
The SHPO coordinates state and federal rehabilitation tax credit programs for owners of historic buildings.
Read MoreResources for Property Owners
Resources for Property Owners
Coming Soon!
Preserve Historic Buildings
Coming Soon!
Researching Historic Buildings
Coming Soon!
Review & Compliance
The SHPO reviews federal, state and local projects for their effect on historic and archaeological properties.
Visit Page
Architecture & History Inventory
The SHPO maintains a database of over 160,000 historic buildings, structures, and places.
Learn More
Resources for Preservation Professionals
Intensive Survey Manual
Intensive Survey Manual
The State Historic Preservation Office's Intensive Survey Manual defines the requirements for performing architectural and historical surveys of Wisconsin buildings, structures, and landscapes. We updated the manual in 2022 to streamline the document and reflect current practices. The updated manual no longer includes the Wisconsin Department of Transportation's requirements for compliance surveys. Please see the WisDOT Bureau of Technical Service's website for DOT project specific guidelines or contact the WisDOT Cultural Resources Staff for more information.
The Intensive Survey Manual has three purposes:
Establishes requirements for subgrantees undertaking historic architecture surveys with State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) subgrant funding and serves as an addendum to the grant agreement.
Provides the standards for state and federal agencies who must perform surveys to comply with the National Historic Preservation Act which mandates that they identify historic properties that are eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.
Offers guidance to groups undertaking surveys, without SHPO involvement, who need information about survey requirements when they consider hiring a survey consultant.
SHPO Survey Manual 2022
Cultural Resource Management Plan
Wisconsin's Cultural Resource Management Plan
In 1986, the Wisconsin State Historic Preservation Office published the three-volume Cultural Resource Management in Wisconsin. This document provides recommendations for preservation activities undertaken by the state, including historic property surveys, overview of threats to historic resources, historic contexts to help evaluate the historical significance of a property, and a list of National Register of Historic Places nominations for similar properties.
The CRMP presents concise overviews of Wisconsin history arranged according to theme. Each major theme is divided into study units that provide historical background, geographical data, resource types related to the theme, and bibliographical information. The CRMP provides a statewide perspective useful to understand how a local historic property compares to others of its type. Intensive survey reports should be organized using a similar thematic format. A survey report includes a discussion of each theme and study unit that pertains to the survey area. The Wisconsin SHPO requires that National Register nominations include an evaluation using the CRMP to develop appropriate contexts for eligibility.
Volume 1
WI SHPO CRMP Volume 1 Introduction
WI SHPO CRMP Volume 1 Historic Indians
WI SHPO CRMP Volume 1 Fur Trade
WI SHPO CRMP Volume 1 Government
WI SHPO CRMP Volume 1 Settlement
Volume 2
WI SHPO CRMP Volume 2 Introduction
WI SHPO CRMP Volume 2 Agriculture
WI SHPO CRMP Volume 2 Industry
WI SHPO CRMP Volume 2 Transportation
WI SHPO CRMP Volume 2 Architecture
Volume 3
WI SHPO CRMP Volume 3 Introduction
WI SHPO CRMP Volume 3 Education
WI SHPO CRMP Volume 3 Social and Political
WI SHPO CRMP Volume 3 Religion
Determination of Eligibility Form
Department of Transportation Determination of Eligibility Form
Download the following documents to view the Wisconsin Historical Society and Department of Transportation (DOT) Determination of Eligibility Form.
DOT Determination of Eligibility (DOC, 32 KB)
Wisconsin Historic Preservation Database
The State Historic Preservation Office manages the state's database of historic resources. Qualified researchers can request access to the database.
Learn More About WHPDLocal Preservation Resources
- Certified Local Government Program
- Historic Preservation Advocacy
- Historic Preservation Commission Training
Local History & Historic Preservation Conference
The 2026 Local History & Historic Preservation Conference welcomes you to the Milwaukee Hyatt Regency for our 20th annual conference!
Doing History
Looking Forward from 250
Celebrating 20 Years of Conference Connections
Oct 14 – Oct 16, 2026
Register Today!Contact Us Today!
You can contact the below offices by phone or by email using the links:
Archaeology: 608-264-6496
Review and Compliance: 608-261-2457
Historic Buildings: 608-264-6502
Burial Sites Preservation: 608-264-6464
National Register of Historic Places: 608-264-6502
Certified Local Governments: 608-264-6512
Report Burial Discovery Emergencies (Toll-Free in WI): 800-342-7834
