Historic Sites, Buildings, and Antiquities Act, 1935 - This act directs the secretary of Interior to carry out wide-ranging programs in the field of history and places with the secretary the responsibility for national leadership in the field of historic preservation. It authorizes the Historic American Buildings Survey, Historic American Engineering Record, and National Survey of Historic Sites and Buildings.

Archaeological Resources Protection Act, 1979 - This act secures the protection of archeological resources on public or Indian lands by regulating the excavation and collection of resources and fostering increased cooperation and exchange of information between private, governmental, and professional communities. The act defines archeological resources to be any material remains of past human life or activities that are of archeological interest and are at least 100 years old. It also requires the notification of Indian tribes prior to issuing permits for activities at sites which may be of religious or cultural importance to them.

National Historic Preservation Act, 1966 - This act establishes additional programs for the preservation of historic properties throughout the nation and establishes a system to classify properties on or eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. This act establishes that prior to approval of an undertaking that will adversely affect resources eligible for or listed in the National Register, the approving federal agency must evaluate the effects of the undertaking and afford the State Historic Preservation Officers and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation an opportunity to comment on the undertaking. The act also provides for reviews at the state and federal level. It was amended by P.L. 94-422 (Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965, as amended, to establish the National Historic Preservation Fund) to require the development of professional standards for preservation of historic properties, require the heads of all federal agencies to assume responsibility for the preservation of historic properties that they own or control, direct agencies to use historic properties, allow agencies to lease a historic property to ensure preservation, restructure the Advisory Council, and direct the Council to promulgate regulations for any exemption from requirements.