August 2025
IN THIS ISSUE
◇ Office of History and Archaeology
Staff Updates
National Register Updates:
Pike's Landing
Wolf Creek Boatworks Historic District
Growden Memorial Ballpark
America250 Program Update
◇ Federal Legislation
◇ Advisory Council on Historic Preservation
◇ Public project alerts
◇ Heritage subscription information
◇ Preservation calendar
Office of History and Archaeology news
Staff Updates: The State of Alaska currently has a hiring freeze in place and as of August 4, OHA has five vacancies. Until hiring waivers are approved and positions are backfilled, Nick Schmuck will serve as Acting State Archaeologist and Sarah Meitl will serve as Acting Chief. Effective June 30, 2025, Governor Dunleavy appointed DNR Commissioner John Boyle to serve as Alaska’s Interim SHPO following Judy Bittner’s well-earned retirement after over forty years of state service.
Contact Information: OHA encourages sending inquiries and requests to the email addresses listed below.
To send by email:
Section 106: oha.revcomp@alaska.gov
State Permits: oha.permits@alaska
AHRS: oha.ibs@alaska.gov
Grants: ohagrants@alaska.gov
Surveys and Research: adam.brinkman@alaska.gov
General Inquiries: dnr.oha@alaska.gov
To send by USPS or other courier:
Alaska State Historic Preservation Office
c/o Office of History and Archaeology
550 W 7th Ave, Suite 1310
Anchorage, AK 99501
Nominations from Alaska: Three 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 Island 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. On July 14, 2025, the Keeper listed Pike's Landing 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).
National Register Listing: Pike’s Landing, Fairbanks North Star Borough, listed 7/14/2025. (Reference Number RS100011912).
America250 Program Update: The America250-Alaska planning team has accomplished the following tasks to encourage broad, statewide participation:
Here is the media coverage to date:
America250 Traveling Exhibit: The Alaska Office of History and Archaeology has created a traveling exhibit, Alaska's Fields of Dreams: America's Pastime in the 49th State, for the America250 Alaska project. The exhibit consists of nine free-standing, 80" x 33.5" banners. The banners tell the history of Alaska Baseball, from the Indigenous version of the game to the Alaska Baseball League. Reserving the exhibit is free, except for shipping. To learn more, contact OHA's exhibit coordinator, Rachel Carraway, at rachel.carraway@alaska.gov.
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.
On 07/14/25, the U.S. House released its FY26 House Interior Appropriations Bill, and the appropriations subcommittee held their markup on 07/15/25. The bill was favorably reported by a vote of 8-5 along party lines and moved to the full committee. The House bill proposes an overall HPF funding level of $168.9 million, situating it level to FY25. It also includes a 1-year reauthorization of the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) – through Sept. 30, 2026, as well as $30 million for the Semisequincentennial Commission to commemorate the 250th.
On 07/24/25, the Senate held their appropriations full committee mark up of their proposed bill, which passed the committee with a vote of 26-2. The Senate proposes an overall HPF funding level of $168.246 million, $654,000 below FY25.
PROPOSED FY26 Appropriations from House and Senate Bills:
(numbers via NCSHPO, 07/25/25)
FY26 HPF |
House |
Senate |
SHPO |
$62.15 million |
$62.15 million |
SAT |
$25.5 million |
$25.2 million |
THPO |
$23 million |
$23.75 million |
AA Civil Rights |
$24 million |
$24 million |
Paul Bruhn |
$10 million |
$0 |
HBCU |
$11 million |
$11 million |
250th |
$7 million |
$0 |
Equal Rights |
$5 million |
$5 million |
URC |
$1.25 million |
$1.25 million |
CDS |
$0 |
15.59 million |
Advisory Council on Historic Preservation
The ACHP has been directed to reduce staff and office space. Layoff notices to ACHP staff went out this month (July), which will ultimately reduce their staff from 39 to 16. This reduction in staffing is anticipated to align with the currently proposed budget of $5.7 million, down from $9.5 million. The agency is also reducing their current office space by 40%, which will be completed by mid-September.
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
Johnson Tract Easements Cultural Resources Management Plan, NPS
Review and compliance agreement development for large projects in progress:
West Susitna Access Road, DOT&PF
Programmatic 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.
Much like the OHA office, the Heritage Newsletter is entering a stage of transition. We are working on updating our mailing list and delivery system. We will have more information on the future of the newsletter and its delivery soon.
Preservation Calendar
2025
AUGUST
August 18-21 – COGNA (Council on Geographic Names Authorities) annual conference. Golden, Colorado. To register, click HERE.
SEPTEMBER
September 8-12 - NATHPO 25th annual conference. Hosted by Reno-Sparks Indian Colony. Registration is now open for NATHPO's 25th Annual Conference, happening September 8-12, 2025, at the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino in Reno, NV! Visit NATHPO's website HERE to get details.
September 10 - 13 - AASLH annual conference, theme The American Experiment, Cincinnati, OH.
Session proposals are now being accepted and are due on December 13.
September 16 - 18 - National Trust for Historic Preservation - 2025 PastForward Conference, Milwaukee, WI. Registration opens in July. For more information go to: PastForward National Preservation Conference
September 24-27 - Alaska Historical Society annual conference, theme "Vital Lifelines in Alaska History", Fairbanks, Alaska. For more information go to the AHS website www.alaskahistoricalsociety.org
OCTOBER
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
October 28-29 - NPI training "NAGPRA and ARPA: Application Requirements", Anchorage, AK. Offered in conjunction with "NEPA Compliance and Cultural Resources". For information go to npi.org
October 30-31 - NPI training. "NEPA Compliance and Cultural Resources", Anchorage, AK. Offered in conjunction with "NAGPRA and ARPA". For information go to npi.org
2027
MARCH
March 3-7 – Sharing Our Knowledge conference, Ketchikan. For more information and volunteer opportunities, contact Joaqlin Estus at jmestus50@gmail.com