Title:  A View to the Future: Idaho Comprehensive Historic Preservation Plan

Idaho State Historical Society Logo

Number of Pages:  41
Approval Date:  February 15, 2002
Planning Cycle:  6 years

Contact Information:

Don Watts, Preservation Planner
State Historic Preservation Office
Idaho State Historical Society
210 Main Street
Boise, Idaho 83702
(208) 334-3861; fax (208) 334-2775
E-mail: dwatts@ishs.state.id.us
Website: www.idahohistory.net/IDAHO_HP_PLAN.pdf

Vision/Mission Statement:

Vision statement of purpose:  The Idaho State Historical Society (ISHS) acts on behalf of the citizens of the state to facilitate and assure the protection of Idaho's heritage. The ISHS maintains access to documents, artifacts, and sites that can be used by the public for their benefit and appreciation. The ISHS maintains historic and prehistoric resources. Access to these resources is provided through public outreach, publications, technical assistance, exhibits, and the encouragement of local, state and regional efforts to preserve history. The ISHS undertakes and promotes these activities through its goals and policies in accordance with the powers and duties assigned to it.

Mission:  To educate through the identification, preservation, and interpretation of Idaho's cultural heritage.

Table of Contents:

1. Introduction
2. The State Historic Preservation Office
3. Idaho's Cultural Resources and the Trends Affecting Them
4. Development of the Comprehensive Plan
5. Historic Contexts: A Component of Historic Preservation Planning
6. Historic Context Framework: An Overview
7. Major Legislation Affecting Historic Resources
8. Bibliography
9. Preservation Goals and Objectives

• Regular input from tribal consultations and meetings of the Idaho Association of Professional Archaeologists and the Idaho Archaeological Society;
• ISHS Board of Trustees and Idaho Historic Sites Review Board identified short- and long-term needs and priorities;
• Ideas solicited from CLGs through newsletters, conferences;
• Public and professional input solicited during workshops and conferences, and ISHS newsletter.

• Staff review and analysis of resource information from Section 106 reviews, National Register nominations, survey projects, and historic context studies, and of information from public comments and CLG and subgrant activities.

ISSUES, THREATS, & OPPORTUNITIES

• Modifications associated with continued use of historic properties;
• Unplanned destruction or outright vandalism of archaeological sites;
• Replacement of historic bridges as part of highway upgrading;
• Insensitive modifications destroy building integrity;
• Resource types, geographical areas, time periods, and themes are underrepresented on National Register;
• Increasing involvement of Indian Tribes in preservation activities;
• Older survey information now has limited usefulness;
• Incomplete surveys of rural areas;
• Continued need to expand computerization of resource information;
• Population growth creates demand for new construction - housing, commercial, transportation, etc.
• Potential for losing historic farms to suburban development;
• Ground disturbance associated with construction damages archaeological sites;
• Increasing recreation and tourism demands;
• Potential for boosting local economies from heritage tourism;
• Single-industry communities may be more seriously affected by economic declines;
• Government at all levels in period of transition and redefinition, placing greater preservation burden on private sector;
• Declining federal and state funding for preservation activities;
• Local communities authorized to enact preservation ordinances;
• Growing tend in railroad abandonments threatens bridges, depots, related buildings, and associated archaeological sites;
• Increased interest in energy conservation and handicap accessibility affects changes to historic buildings;
• Abandonment or upgrading historic public buildings such as schools.

1. Conduct and maintain a comprehensive ongoing program to survey, inventory, and register Idaho's historic resources; ensure that the information compiled is sufficient to identify and, when applicable, to evaluate the significance of those resources.
2. Develop information about historic properties to a level sufficient to identify and evaluate their significance in an objective manner and to aid in the decision-making regarding their treatment.
3. Incorporate historic preservation concepts in program and project planning in both the private and public sectors at the local, state, and federal levels.
4. Take advantage of and promote the use of existing mechanisms and incentives to treat historic properties; investigate the feasibility of other new mechanisms and incentives.
5. Increase public awareness and knowledge of Idaho's historic resources and the opportunities that historic preservation offers our communities and state.
6. Ensure the widespread acceptance and use of established historic preservation techniques, standards, and guidelines in projects involving historic resources.
7. Ensure the efficient and effective management of historic sites information; ensure good public access to that information.
8. Strive for broad and productive public participation and input in SHPO and other historic preservation activities.
9. Encourage and support a broad historic preservation network in order to coordinate and cooperate with the identification and management of Idaho's historic resources.

1. Ongoing survey program.
   • Partner with others to identify historic sites;
   • Use professional survey techniques;
   • Meet documentation standards;
   • Emphasize survey in rural areas;
   • Nominate properties to the National Register.
2. Historic property information.
   • Regular program of historic context studies consistent with Context Framework in the Plan;
   • Identify information gaps in historic contexts in order to target endangered or ignored property types;
   • High quality information in National Register nominations;
   • Define context development criteria;
   • Consult with tribes to increase understanding of tribal perspectives.
3. Integrate preservation into planning.
   • Promote compliance with Sections 106 and 110 as effective planning tool;
   • Promote the Secretary's Planning Standards;
   • Assist local communities to integrate preservation into planning;
   • Encourage downtown rehab, recreation, tourism, rural development, and other programs to integrate historic resources.
4. Existing and new incentives.
   • Federal tax credit program;
   • Easements;
   • Educate about benefits of local historic designation and design review;
   • Adopt and use Uniform Code for Building Conservation;
   • Other state and federal programs;
   • Encourage new legislation for preservation enhancement.
5. Increase public awareness.
   • National Historic Preservation Week;
   • Idaho Archaeology Week;
   • Publications about historic resources;
   • Workshops, lectures, class presentations;
   • Consult with tribes;
   • Encourage federal and state agencies to provide interpretation of historic properties.
6. Professional preservation techniques.
   • Use Secretary's Treatment Standards;
   • Workshops and training sessions;
   • Comprehensive technical information resource file.
7. Management of historic sites information.
   • Standardize historic site forms;
   • Information exchange with tribes;
   • Cross-reference archaeological and historic site files;
   • Computerize statewide inventory;
   • Solicit input from data users.
8. Broad public participation.
   • Increase elected officials' awareness and support for historic preservation;
   • Encourage tribal and public participation in public meetings.
9. Broad preservation network.
   • Support private non-profit preservation entities;
   • Support various constituency groups;
   • Cooperate with federal and state agencies;
   • Support local preservation activities.

FEATURES OF NOTE
Thorough discussion of historic contexts, their development, and Idaho's framework in Chapters 5 and 6.