Welcome to Montana SHPO
QUICK LINKS
Explore the National Register page to find:
- Nominations Under Review
- Recent Listings and Awards
- Listed Property Finding Aids
- Property Research Resources
- How to nominate a property for listing
Historic private residential or commercial building preservation funding opportunities are limited, and SHPO does not administer any grant programs for these types of properties. We recommend exploring the Preservation Funding tab at the bottom of this page.
Commercial properties eligible for or listed in the National Register may qualify for the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Credit.
Communities certified through the Certified Local Government (CLG) program, may have access to funds for local preservation projects. For more information about the Certified Local Government program or to pursue certification for your community, please visit the National Park Service CLG homepage.
Explore the Historic Architecture page for resources or contact the Montana SHPO Historic Architecture Specialist to learn more about:
- Standards for Historic Building Rehabilitation
- Economics of adapting a historic building for reuse
- Treatment of historic building materials
- Use of historically appropriate modern materials
- Rehabilitation of historic interior finishes
- Preservation tax incentives and covenants
Visit the Review and Compliance page to learn how to consult with SHPO and prepare documents.
Or, go directly to Submit and Access Data.
Finding a professional experienced in historic preservation and who meets requirements for federal programs can be challenging. SHPO maintains the following lists to help you search for quality and qualified architects, engineers, and trades people in Montana and the surrounding area.
We recommend you make inquiries regarding professional qualifications and check references as appropriate.
Skilled Trades and Architecture Professionals (PDF)
Cultural Resource Consulting Services: History and Archaeology (PDF)
NOTE: Individuals and firms included on the following lists enrolled via a public form provided by the Montana State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). Inclusion on this list does not represent a certification, endorsement, recommendation, or assumption of responsibility for the work of any consultant. There is no guarantee implicit or implied that any work product produced by those on this list will meet federal or state requirements.
If you think you have found human remains, a burial site, or funerary objects you are required by law to contact the local coroner and/or the State Archaeologist (444-7719). Learn more about unmarked human remains and buried / marked remains or cemeteries
If you find an artifact or fossil . . .
DO leave the artifact in place. Remember, this artifact has likely been in this place for years…sometimes thousands of years. Under no circumstances does it need you to remove it from its location, even if you are taking it to the proper authorities. Taking human remains or artifact associated with a human burial is disrespectful to the people who left it behind or their descendants and may be illegal.
DO contact the landowner to report your findings. Except for human remains and burial objects, artifacts belong to the landowner. Not all artifacts need to be reported, but if you find something on land you do not own that you want to make sure archaeologist know about, contact the landowner before doing anything else.
DO report human remains, unmarked burial sites, and burial objects. Artifacts left with a human burial or human remains cannot be “owned,” are not property abandoned, and therefore are not owned by the land owner.
DO document your finding location and take photos when reporting the discovery.
DO NOT share the location of your discovery on social media.
Jessica Bush
State Archaeologist
Phone: (406) 444-0388
Email: jbush2@mt.gov
Volunteer! Help in the SHPO office, work on a restoration project, or participate in an archaeological “dig.” Reach out to mtshpo@mt.gov to express your interest.
Donate! Select “State Historic Preservation Office” when you renew your MTHS membership or make a donation.
If you have an antique that you'd like to donate or learn how to preserve, visit this page or contact the Montana Museum Curatorial Office.
Programs & Services
The Montana State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) administers eight programs to fulfill duties required by the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and Montana State Antiquities Act, such as maintaining a statewide survey to identify and document historic buildings and archaeological sites, evaluating sites for eligibility and facilitating their nomination and listing in the National Register of Historic Places, assisting local governments in developing historic preservation programs, administering federal tax incentives for historic building rehabilitation, assisting federal and state agencies in their responsibilities to identify and protect cultural resources, providing preservation education, training and technical assistance, and preparing and implementing a statewide Historic Preservation Plan.
Preservation Help
Phone: (406) 444-7715
Email: mtshpo@mt.gov
Mailing Address:
Montana SHPO, Suite 201
225 N Roberts Ave
PO Box 201201
Helena, MT 59620-1201
To reach current Montana Preservation Review Board Members, email mtshpo@mt.gov to request contact information.
Current Board Members
(updated 1/2025)
- CHRIS AVERILL- Historic Preservation, Public - East Helena - 9/2022 to 10/2027
- LAURA EVILSIZER - History Professional - Helena - 12/2024 to 12/2028
- PHILLIPE GONZALEZ - History Professional - Helena - 12/2024 to10/2028
- Dr. DELIA HAGEN - History Professional - Missoula - 10/2020 to10/2028
- MARVIN KELLER - Historic Preservation Professional - Billings - 10/2018 to 10/2026
- ROSE KRIEG - Historic Preservation, Public - Butte - 12/2024 to 10/2027
- KELLYANNE TERRY - Public - Lewistown - 5/2020 to 10/2027
- MARY HORSTMAN WILLIAMS - History Professional - Hamilton - 12/2024 to 10/2026
For additional board, councils, and Commissions information, see: http://svc.mt.gov/gov/boards/
Sixteen Montana CLG communities
Printable List of CLG Contacts (PDF)
Anaconda-Deer Lodge County
Gayla Hess, (406) 563-4012, ghess@adlc.us
Billings-Yellowstone County
David Green, (406) 247-8666, greend@billingsmt.gov
Bozeman
Sarah Rosenberg, (406) 582-2297, srosenberg@bozeman.net
Butte-Silver Bow County
Kate McCourt, 406) 497-6258, kmccourt@bsb.mt.gov
Carbon County
Becky Van Horn, (406) 446-3667, preservation@carboncountyhistory.com
Columbus-Stillwater County
Penny Redli, (406) 322-4588, predli@MuseumoftheBeartooths.com
Deer Lodge
Jacque Lavelle, jaclavelle@gmail.com
Great Falls-Cascade County
Samantha Long, (406) 455-8550, slong@greatfallsmt.net
Hardin-Big Horn County
vacant
Havre-Hill County
Wade Bitz, wadebitz@gmail.com
Lewis & Clark County
Pamela J. Attardo, (406) 447-8357, pattardo@lccountymt.gov
Lewistown
Doug Osterman, (406) 535-1775, planning@ci.lewistown.mt.us
Livingston
Jennifer Severson, (406) 222-4903, jseverson@livingstonmontana.org
Miles City
vacant
Missoula
Elizabeth Johnson, (406) 552-6638, johnsone@ci.missoula.mt.us
Virginia City
Eric Barsness, (406) 843-5321, virginiacityhpo@3rivers.net
ASSINIBOINE & SIOUX TRIBES CULTURAL RESOURCE COMMITTEE www.fortpecktribes.org/crd/
PO Box 1027 - Fort Peck Agency - Poplar, MT 59255
THPO: Dyan Youpee, Phone: (406) 768-2382, d.youpee@fortpecktribes.net
BLACKFEET NATION TRIBE
PO Box 850 - Browning, MT 59417
THPO: John Murray, (406) 338-7522, jmflysdown@gmail.com
FORT BELKNAP INDIAN COMMUNITY
656 Agency Main Street – Harlem, MT 59526
THPO: Michael J. Black Wolf, (406) 353-2295, mblackwolf@ftbelknap.org
THE CROW TRIBE OF INDIANS
PO Box 159 - Crow Agency, MT 59022
THPO: Aaron B. Brien, Cell: (406) 679-2511, (406) 839-3817, aaron.brien@crow-nsn.gov
NORTHERN CHEYENNE TRIBE
PO Box 128 - N. Cheyenne Agency - Lame Deer, MT 59043
THPO: Teanna Limpy, (406) 477-4839
Northern Cheyenne Tribal Archaeologist
Andrew J. Richard, (406) 548-4841, andrew.richard@cheyennenation.com
CHIPPEWA CREE CULTURAL RESOURCES PRESERVATION DEPARTMENT
http://www.nei-yahw.com/
9740 Upper Box Elder Rd. - Box Elder, MT 59521
THPO: Jonathan Windy Boy, (406) 395-4700, Jonathan.windyboy@nei-yahw.com
CONFEDERATED SALISH & KOOTENAI TRIBES PRESERVATION OFFICE
PO Box 278 - Pablo, MT 59855
THPO: Madeline M. Caye, (406) 675-2700 ext 1215, madeline.caye@cskt.org
LITTLE SHELL CULTURE COMMITTEE
625 Central Ave West Suite 100 - Great Falls MT 59404
Gerald Grey, 406-315-2400, ggray@gng.net
Finding a professional experienced in historic preservation and who meets requirements for federal programs can be challenging. SHPO maintains the following lists to help you search for quality and qualified architects, engineers, and trades people in Montana and the surrounding area. NOTE: Individuals and firms included on the following lists enrolled via a public form provided by the Montana State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). Inclusion on this list does not represent a certification, endorsement, recommendation, or assumption of responsibility for the work of any consultant. There is no guarantee implicit or implied that any work product produced by those on this list will meet federal or state requirements.
We recommend you make inquiries regarding professional qualifications and check references as appropriate.
Department of Commerce
Tash Wisemiller
Montana Main Street Coordinator
Community Development Division
Montana Department of Commerce
301 S. Park Avenue; P.O. Box 200523
Helena, MT 59620-0523
(406) 841-2756 Phone
Fax: (406) 841-2771 Fax
twisemiller@mt.gov
Montana Heritage Commission
101 Reeder's Alley
Helena MT 59601
(406) 449-7081
or
P.O. Box 338
Virginia City, MT 59755
(406) 843-5247
montanaheritagecommission.mt.gov/
Department of Environmental Quality
James D. Strait
Tribal and Cultural Resources Officer
MFSA /UAV operations
Directors Office
1520 E. 6th Ave
PO Box 200901
Helena, MT 59620-0901
jstrait@mt.gov
(406)444-6765 Office (406)475-5902 Cell
Department of Natural Resources and Conservation
Patrick Rennie
DNRC Trust Lands Archaeologist
1625 11th Ave
Helena, MT 59620
prennie@mt.gov
(406) 444-2882
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks
Heritage Program
Fish Wildlife and Parks
Rachel Reckin, Heritage Specialist for Western Montana
PO Box 200701
Helena MT 59620-0701
(406) 444-3756 |Rachel.Reckin@mt.gov
Brenna Moloney, Heritage Specialist for Eastern Montana
2300 Lake Elmo Drive
Billings MT 59105
(406) 594-4322 | Brenna.Moloney@mt.gov
Montana Department of Transportation
2701 Prospect Ave
PO Box 202001
Helena, MT 59620-1001
Historian, Jon Axline
jaxline@mt.gov
(406) 444-6358
Archaeologist, Laura Evilsizer
levilsizer@mt.gov
(406) 444-0455
National Park ServiceYellowstone National Park US Fish and Wildlife ServiceZone Archaeologist, MT/UT/WY Natural Resource Conservation ServiceArchaeologist, Cultural Resource Specialist Bureau of Indian AffairsBIA Archaeologist Bureau of ReclamationBOR Montana Area Office Archaeologist PO Box 30137
|
Bureau of Land Management5001 Southgate Drive Butte Field Office Archaeologist Missoula Field Office Archaeologist Miles City Field Office Archaeologist North Central Montana District Archaeologist Dillon Field Office Archaeologist BLM Office of Law Enforcement |
Forest ServiceJorie Clark Beaverhead/Deerlodge National Forest South Zone Archaeologist North Zone Archaeologist Bitterroot National Forest Custer-Gallatin National Forest Mark Bodily Kootenai National Forest Lolo National Forest |
While the SHPO does not administer a grant program for the preservation of residential or commercial buildings, we recommend investigating the following funding sources:
Brian Wishneff & AssociatesCityscape Capital Group, LLC
Clocktower Tax Credits
Community Reinvestment Fund
http://www.grants.gov/
HUD Community Development Block Grant
Low Income Housing Tax Credits
Montana Dept. of Commerce TIIP Grant
Montana Dept. of Transportation CTEP Grant
Montana Economic Developers Association
National Trust for Historic Preservation
USDA Rural Development
US Forest Service Rural Community Assistance Grant
Montana Preservation Alliance
www.preservemontana.org
Billings Preservation Society
www.mossmansion.com
Butte Citizens for Preservation and Revitalization
www.buttecpr.org
Conrad Mansion
www.conradmansion.com
Daly Mansion Preservation Trust
www.dalymansion.org
Humanities Montana
www.humanitiesmontana.org
Montana Archaeological Society
www.mtarchaeologicalsociety.org/
Montana History Foundation
www.montanahistoryfoundation.org
Museums Association of Montana
www.montanamuseums.org
Preservation Cascade, Inc.
www.montanas-archbridge.org
Preserve Historic Missoula
www.preservehistoricmissoula.org
Western Heritage Center
www.ywhc.org
Finding a professional experienced in historic preservation and who meets requirements for federal programs can be challenging. SHPO maintains the following lists to help you search for quality and qualified architects, engineers, and trades people in Montana and the surrounding area. NOTE: Individuals and firms included on the following lists enrolled via a public form provided by the Montana State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). Inclusion on this list does not represent a certification, endorsement, recommendation, or assumption of responsibility for the work of any consultant. There is no guarantee implicit or implied that any work product produced by those on this list will meet federal or state requirements.
We recommend you make inquiries regarding professional qualifications and check references as appropriate.
Cultural Resource Consulting Services: History and Archaeology (PDF)
