Alaska Department of Natural Resources

Office of History and Archaeology

July 2025

IN THIS ISSUE

◇ Office of History and Archaeology
    Staff Updates
    National Register Updates:
    Wolf Creek Boatworks Historic District
    Growden Memorial Ballpark
    America250 Program Update
    State Fiscal Year 2026 Budget
◇ Federal Legislation
◇ National Park Service
◇ Advisory Council on Historic Preservation
◇ Public project alerts
◇ Heritage subscription information
◇ Preservation calendar

Previous Issues

2025
January
February
Mar-Apr
May-June

2024
January
Feb-Mar
April
May-June
July
August
September
October
Nov-Dec

2023
Jan-Apr
May-June
July
August
Nov-Dec

Office of History and Archaeology news

Staff Updates: The Office of History and Archaeology would like to announce that the Commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources, John Boyle, has been designated the interim State Historic Preservation Officer effective June 30, 2025, until such time in which a permanent appointment is made. Our office also has three Deputy SHPOs in place to continue work as usual. They are Katie Ringsmuth, Sarah Meitl, and Nick Schmuck.

We would also like to announce that effective July 1st, Nick Schmuck will be the Acting State Archaeologist and Sarah Meitl will be the Acting Chief of OHA. The State of Alaska currently has a hiring freeze in place and as of July 1, OHA has four vacancies.

Two of the Nation’s most recent listings are from Alaska. On June 3, 2025, the Keeper listed the Wolf Creek Boatworks Historic District located on Prince of Wales Islands in Southeast Alaska, and then on June 16, 2025, listed Growden Memorial Ballpark in the Fairbanks North Star Borough in the National Register of Historic Places. For details about the newly listed properties, contact State Historian Katie Ringsmuth at katie.ringsmuth@alaska.gov.

National Register Listing: Wolf Creek Boatworks Historic District, Hollis, Tongass National Forest area, listed 6/3/2025. (Reference Number SG100011911).

National Register Listing: Growden Memorial Ballpark, 207 Wilbur Street, Fairbanks, listed 6/16/2025. (Reference Number SG100011920).

America250 Program Update: On June 19, the State of Alaska successfully launched its America250-Alaska program in Fairbanks, Alaska. At the event, the state rolled out the website and press release, as well as the Alaska's Fields of Dreams: Baseball in America's Far North exhibit, and announced the listing of Growden Memorial Ballpark. As part of the Midnight Sun Game's 120th Anniversary celebration, OHA staff conducted interviews with ESPN SportsCenter (expected to air on June 30), The New York Times, and Alaska News Source.

Here is the media coverage to date:

The Alaska's Fields of Dreams: Baseball in America's Far North exhibit will be set up at Mulcahy Stadium in Anchorage on the 4th of July for the annual Alaska Baseball League matchup between the Glacier Pilots and Bucs. It is Anchorage's biggest game of the year, and America250-Alaska will be there!

The America250-Alaska coalition is growing. If you have questions, would like to learn more, or are interested in getting involved, please contact Katie Ringsmuth at Katie.ringsmuth@alaska.gov.

State Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Governor Dunleavy vetoed the National Historic Preservation Fund (NHPF) in the Capital Budget (CIP) for State Fiscal Year 2026. The NHPF, along with the State GFM, funds the capital side of the SHPO and is necessary for continued program certification. In addition, this CIP authorizes receipt of federal funds from sources other than the Historic Preservation Fund allocation for the State Historic Preservation Office.



Federal Legislation news

Congress passed a Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 enacted as Public Law 119-4. After a delay of several months, NPS announced on July 1, 2025, the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the FFY25 Historic Preservation Fund Annual Grant SHPO Apportionment.

The second week of June, the Interior Secretary Burgum appeared before the Senate Energy & Natural Resources committee on June 11 and the House Natural Resources committee on June 12 for hearings on the President’s FFY26 budget.

FFY26 Budget Items of Interest, as of June 13, 2025 (Analysis in italics by NCSHPO):

  • 1 year reauthorization of the $150m deposit to the HPF for FY26
    • an interesting inclusion, given the proposal to nearly eliminates all HPF funding
  • Historic Preservation Fund
    • Only proposes $11 million to HBCUs for FFY26 appropriations
    • Proposes elimination of funding for existing grant programs under HPF and SHPOs/THPOs for FFY26
    • Includes $50m in HPF supplemental disaster relief for natural disasters occurring in and prior to calendar year 2024, (funding has been made available for application)
    • The budget authority referenced for 2025 HPF is noted as $219 million (it's possible this reference may indicate the eventual release of FY25 HPF funds, however there is no information indicating an intent either way at this point)
  • ACHP funding proposed at $5,151,000. Seeking to reduce funding by nearly 50% from the prior year.
  • Proposes significant reductions in workforce for DOI, which would lose more than 5,000 full-time positions at the National Park Service
  • Proposes funding cuts to cultural programs [2026 est. $16 million, 2025 est.=$40 million, 2024 actual=$41 million] which:
    • Manage the National Register of Historic Places
    • Reviews and certifies applications for Federal Tax Credits for Historic Preservation as a reimbursable activity
    • Conducts cultural resources management planning through the National Historic Landmarks program, the Historic American Buildings Survey, the Historic American Engineering Record and the Historic American Landscapes Survey programs
    • Advances the application of science and technology in historic preservation
    • Provides information distribution and skills training in the preservation and conservation of the Nation’s significant historic and cultural resources through the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training. This activity also includes grant administration funding.


National Park Service

National Register of Historic Places Update: On May 9, 2025, the National Register of Historic Places marked an exciting milestone: over 100,000 properties have been listed for their significance in American history, art, architecture, engineering, and culture! Formally established in 1966 under the National Historic Preservation Act, the National Register is the official list of historic places deemed worthy of preservation. These buildings, structures, objects, sites, and districts serve as enduring examples of the nation's heritage, reflecting the events, people, and achievements that have shaped our country. Be sure to take a look at NPS’s related posting about Preservation Month 2025.

Emergency Supplemental Historic Preservation Fund Grants. the National Park Service (NPS) announced a grant opportunity through the Emergency Supplemental Historic Preservation Fund (ESHPF). $48,000,000 will be awarded under the ESHPF grant program for necessary expenses related to the consequences of natural disasters occurring in calendar years 2023 and/or 2024. Grants are awarded through a competitive process and do not require non-Federal match. There are separate funding announcements for capacity and survey grants to State and Tribal Historic Preservation Offices and physical preservation projects. Physical preservation activities should be submitted to funding opportunity number P25AS00489. Applications are due July 15, 2025.



Advisory Council on Historic Preservation news

Proposed Army Program Comment
On May 30, 2025, the Department of the Army Federal Preservation Officer (FPO) notified the Executive Director of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation of the Army’s decision to seek a Program Comment for Army Warfighting Readiness Activities and Associated Buildings, Structures, and Landscapes (Program Comment) in accordance with 36 CFR 800.14(e). This is an invitation from the Army FPO to potentially interested parties to participate in a series of virtual nationwide consultation conferences on the Army’s proposed Program Comment.

To participate as an interested party in the Army's Program Comment consultation, notify the Army FPO, Dr. David Guldenzopf via email to david.b.guldenzopf.civ@army.mil by July 10, 2025. An interested parties list will be developed based on the email responses received to this invitation. Going forward after July 10, 2025, all Program Comment communications from the Army FPO will be addressed to those identified on the interested parties list.

eLearning
ACHP announces that three of their eLearning courses are now back online! These include "What is Section 106?"; "What Now? Protecting Historic Properties During Disaster Response"; and "Section 304 and Confidentiality". Visit the eLearning course webpage (e-Learning Courses | Advisory Council on Historic Preservation) to check out these updated courses.

In person Alaska training:
October 8 - ACHP Section 106 Essentials Training, in-person, Atwood Conference Center, 550 W 7The Ave, Suite 1940, Anchorage, Alaska.
https://www.achp.gov/sites/default/files/2024-12/InfoSheet-AnchorageEssentials-8Oct2025_0.pdf

October 9 - ACHP Section 106 Agreements Seminar, in-person, Atwood Conference Center, Anchorage, Alaska
https://www.achp.gov/sites/default/files/2024-12/InfoSheet-AnchorageAgreements-9Oct2025_0.pdf

Public Projects Alert

Section 106 large project consultation in progress:

Graphite One Mine near Nome, USACE

Safer Seward Highway, MP 98.5-118, DOT&PF

Seward to Glenn Connection PEL, DOT&PF

Chilkoot National Historic Trail Comprehensive Trail Plan, NPS

Iditarod National Historic Trail Comprehensive Trail Plan Revision, BLM

Cook Inlet LNG, FERC

Review and compliance agreement development for large projects in progress:

West Susitna Access Road, DOT&PF

Programmatic Agreement

Harbor Mountain, USFS

Memorandum of Agreement

USFS Heritage Program

Amendment 4, Region 10 Programmatic Agreement

USFS Sustainable Cabins

Programmatic Agreement

NPS Kennecott Maintenance and Operations

Programmatic Agreement Amendment

NPS Dyea and the Chilkoot Trail

Programmatic Agreement

For information on how to participate in the process, or on how to review and comment on the above projects, contact Sarah Meitl, sarah.meitl@alaska.gov.

Heritage Subscription Information

Heritage is produced by the Office of History and Archaeology, Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation, Alaska Department of Natural Resources. Please send your comments, suggestions, and information by e-mail to dnr.oha@alaska.gov, mail to 550 West 7th Ave., Suite 1310, Anchorage, Alaska 99501-3565, or telephone 907.269.8700.

All issues are posted to our web site at dnr.alaska.gov/parks/oha and distributed to subscribers by e-mail. A paper copy can be sent to individuals and organizations that specifically request it.

To be added to the subscription list, please send an e-mail to dnr.oha@alaska.gov with "Heritage, subscribe" in the subject line.

If you do not wish to continue to receive Heritage, please send an e-mail to dnr.oha@alaska.gov with "Heritage, unsubscribe" in the subject line.

Preservation Calendar

2025

AUGUST

  • August 18-21 – COGNA (Council on Geographic Names Authorities) annual conference. Golden, Colorado. To register, click HERE.

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

2027

MARCH

  • March 3-7 – Sharing Our Knowledge conference, Ketchikan. For more information and volunteer opportunities, contact Joaqlin Estus at jmestus50@gmail.com