Office of Archaeology & Historic Preservation and State Historical Fund

The Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (OAHP) creatively engages Coloradans and their guests in partnerships to discover, preserve, and take pride in our architectural, archaeological, and other historic places by providing statewide leadership and support to our partners in archaeology and historic preservation.

A number of programs are under the umbrella of OAHP, including:

• Centennial Farms & Ranches
• Certified Local Governments (CLG)
• National & State Registers of Historic Places
• Preservation Tax Credits
• Program for Avocational Archaeological Certification (PAAC)
• Review & Compliance
• State Historical Fund
• Survey & Inventory

The office also houses the Office of the State Archaeologist.

The State Historical Fund was created by the 1990 constitutional amendment allowing limited gaming in the towns of Cripple Creek, Central City, and Black Hawk. The amendment directs that a portion of the gaming tax revenues be used for historic preservation throughout the state. Funds are distributed through a competitive process and all projects must demonstrate strong public benefit and community support.  Grants vary in size, from a few hundred dollars to amounts in excess of $200,000. The State Historical Fund assists in a wide variety of preservation projects including restoration and rehabilitation of historic buildings, architectural assessments, archaeological excavations, designation and interpretation of historic places, preservation planning studies, and education and training programs.