Welcome to Montana SHPO
The Montana State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) works together with all Montanans to promote the preservation of our state's historic and cultural places. From 10,000-year-old archaeological sites to 100-year-old homestead farms, a lot of history has unfolded beneath the big Montana sky. We encourage people across the state to identify, document, recognize and protect the heritage sites of Montana, preserving our rich cultural landscape for generations to come.
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I want to...
Find out if a property is already listed on the National Register and view related property records:
https://mhs.mt.gov/Shpo/index1
Research a property for nomination to the National Register
To find out ways to research your property Preserve America.
Montana Property Research Guide (PDF)
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.
Montana SHPO serves as a technical advisory for public and private building owners, architects, and engineers concerning the best practices in preservation and historically sensitive rehabilitation. In addition, we review and comment on work proposed for historic properties owned by state agencies, and owned and funded by federal agencies. Explore the Technical Resources tab at the bottom of this page, or contact SHPO's Historic Architecture Specialist.
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.
Architects and Trades People (PDF)
Cultural Resource Consulting Services: History and Archaeology (PDF)
“Artifacts” are things that past peoples made, changed, and left behind where they lived and worked. Paleontological evidence of non-human life comes in the form of fossils and fossilized remains. So, what should you do 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. 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).
- 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
Click here if unmarked human remains/bones are located.
Click here if you have questions on buried/marked remains (PDF) or cemeteries
If you acquired an object or artifact that you want to preserve or donate, complete the acquisitions questionnaire.
The Montana SHPO consults on projects that are subject to historic preservation laws to ensure federal and state projects consider the effects of their work on cultural resources. The Montana State Antiquities Act and the National Historic Preservation Act guide most of the historic preservation work in the state. Any undertaking on FEDERAL LAND, using FEDERAL FUNDS, or requiring FEDERAL PERMITS must comply with SECTION 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. Any project on STATE LAND must comply with the MONTANA STATE ANTIQUITY ACT.
Projects may include landscape modification (e.g., logging, mining, prescribed burns), construction, rehabilitation, demolition, licenses, permits, transfer of federal property, etc. Most historic preservation-driven employment in Montana is through federal projects, work through State Agencies, and private CRM firms closely behind.
Click here to begin the consulting process under Section 106 and the Montana Antiquities Act…
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. https://mhs.mt.gov/about/donate
Advocate! <link to initiatives page>
Internships and Fellowships https://mhs.mt.gov/Shpo/fellowship
Job Opportunities https://statecareers.mt.gov/
Events
- May 9, 2024 - Archaeology Days
- September 2024 - Montana History Conference, Great Falls
- May 2025 - Historic Preservation Awards and Reception
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Programs & Services
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Projects & Products
Explore projects and products we’ve developed to inform and celebrate Montana’s diverse cultural resources and heritage. Through core programs, initiatives, and special projects we work to align our efforts with national priorities and statewide goals that consider sustainability, diversity/ equity/ inclusion, affordable housing, and preservation workforce cultivation in Montana.
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Resources & Links
SHPO's Historic Window Repair & Thermal Upgrade Handbook (PDF)
Illustrated Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings, is the definitive guide to maintaining the historic character of your building: Published by the National Park Service.
Barn Again, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and Successful Farming Magazine collaborate on this website, which is a clearinghouse for information on making historic farm buildings function in the world of modern farming.
The Historic Bridge Foundation offers historical and technical information on bridges and has ideas to help you make the preservation of historic bridges happen.
The Montana Preservation Alliance, made up of architects, historians, and planners, this statewide non-profit works with local communities to save Montana's most endangered historic places.
The National Park Service offers information on how to preserve your building in a way that is sensitive to its historic nature.
The National Trust is probably the most influential preservation advocacy group in the country working on the state, local, and national levels to help in preserving many of the most treasured historic places in Montana.
The Old House Journal has been a source of information on obscure handtools, technical preservation issues, and inspiration for over 20 years.
Partners for Sacred Places is a non-sectarian clearinghouse for advancing the preservation of historic religious properties.
Traditional Building Magazine offers an extensive source list of architectural reproductions.
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 Gran
Preservation Contacts
Phone: (406) 444-7715
Email: mtshpo@mt.gov
Mailing Address:
225 N Roberts Ave
PO Box 201201
Helena, MT 59620-1201
Temporary Physical Address:
910 Helena Ave.
Helena, MT 59601
To reach current Montana Preservation Review Board Members, email mtshpo@mt.gov to request contact information.
Dr. DELIA HAGEN
Architectural History | Missoula, MT
Term: 10/1/2020 - 10/1/2024
MARVIN KELLER (Chair)
History Professional | Billings, MT
Term: 10/1/2018 - 10/1/2022
NICK KUJAWA
Interested Public | Missoula, MT
Term: 5/1/2020 10/1/2023
CHRIS AVERILL
History Professional | East Helena, MT
Terms: 9/5/2022-10/1/2026
JEFFREY SHELDEN
Historic Architect | Lewistown, MT
Terms: 10/14/2016 - 10/1/2020, 10/1/2020 10/1/2024
MARCELLA WALTER
Architectural Historian | Helena, MT
Terms: 10/14/2016 - 10/1/2020, 10/1/2020 - 10/1/2024
KELLYANNE TERRY
Interested Public | Lewistown, MT
Term: 05/1/2020 - 10/1/2023
FRANK LALIBERTY
Interested Public | Cascade, MT
Terms: 1/1/2021 - 9/30/2025
PATTI CASNE
Interested Public | Helena, MT
Term: 2/12/2016 - 5/1/2020, 10/1/2019 - 10/1/2023
For additional board, councils, and Commissions information, see: http://svc.mt.gov/gov/boards/
Anaconda-Deer Lodge County
Billings-Yellowstone County
Bozeman
Butte-Silver Bow County
Carbon County
Columbus-Stillwater County
Deer Lodge
Great Falls-Cascade County
Hardin-Big Horn County
Havre-Hill County
Lewis & Clark County
Lewistown
Livingston
Miles City
Missoula
Virginia City
ASSINIBOINE & SIOUX TRIBES CULTURAL RESOURCE COMMITTEE
Dyan Youpee, THPO
PO Box 1027
Fort Peck Agency
Poplar, MT 59255
Phone: (406) 768-2382
d.youpee@fortpecktribes.net
www.fortpecktribes.org/crd/
BLACKFEET NATION TRIBE
John Murray, THPO
PO Box 850
Browning, MT 59417
Phone: (406) 338-7522
jmflysdown@gmail.com
FORT BELKNAP INDIAN COMMUNITY
Michael J. Black Wolf, THPO
656 Agency Main Street
Harlem MT 59526
Phone: (406) 353-2295
mblackwolf@ftbelknap.org
THE CROW TRIBE OF INDIANS
Aaron B. Brien, THPO
PO Box 159
Crow Agency, MT 59022
Cell: (406)-679-2511
Phone: (406)839-3817
aaron.brien@crow-nsn.gov
NORTHERN CHEYENNE TRIBE
Teanna Limpy, THPO
PO Box 128- N. Cheyenne Agency
Lame Deer, MT 59043
Phone: (406) 477-4839
Andrew J. Richard
Northern Cheyenne Tribal Archaeologist
Lame Deer, MT 59043
Cell: 406-548-4841 andrew.richard@cheyennenation.com
CHIPPEWA CREE CULTURAL RESOURCES PRESERVATION DEPARTMENT
Jonathan Windy Boy, THPO
9740 Upper Box Elder Rd.
Box Elder, MT 59521
Phone: (406) 395-4700
Jonathan.windyboy@nei-yahw.com
Chippewa Cree Cultural Resources Preservation Department
CONFEDERATED SALISH & KOOTENAI TRIBES PRESERVATION DEPARTMENT
Kathryn McDonald, THPO
PO Box 278
Pablo, MT 59855
406-675-2700 x1077
Kathryn.McDonald@cskt.org
LITTLE SHELL CULTURE COMMITTEE
Gerald Grey
625 Central Ave West Suite 100
Great Falls MT 59404
Phone: 406-315-2400
ggray@gng.net
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
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, Ryan Wendel
rwendel@mt.gov
(406) 444-0455
10 East Babcock Street, Room 443
Bozeman, MT 59771
Andrew M. Williamson
Andrew.Williamson@mt.usda.gov
(406) 587-6968 (Office)
(406) 595-6507 (Mobile)
Jorie Clark
Regional Archaeologist
US Forest Service
26 Fort Missoula Rd
Missoula, MT 59804
jorie.clark@usda.gov
(406) 329-3654
Beaverhead/Deerlodge National Forest
Professional Archaeologist, Ayme Swartz
(406) 560-5250 | ayme.swartz@usda.gov
South Zone Archaeologist
420 Barrett Street - Dillon, MT 59725
(406) 683-3891
North Zone Archaeologist
1820 Meadowlark - Butte MT 59701
Bitterroot National Forest
Matthew Werle
1801 N. First Street - Hamilton, MT 59840
(406) 363-7183 | mwerle@fs.fed.us
5001 Southgate Dr #2 - Billings, MT 59105
(406) 255-1455 |
East Zone Archaeologist
West Zone Archaeologist - Connie Constan
Flathead National Forest
Ryan Powell
650 Wolfpack Way
Kalispell, MT 59901
Ryan.Powell@usda.gov
Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest
Mark Bodily
1220 38th Street North
Great Falls MT 59405
mark.bodily@usda.gov
406-791-7742
Arian Randall
Deputy Forest Archaeologist
2880 Skyway Drive
Helena MT 59602
arian.randall@usda.gov
(406) 495-3752
Kootenai National Forest
Cindy Hemry
31374 US Hwy 2
Libby MT 59923
lucinda.hemry@usda.gov
(406) 283-7666
Libby District - Tommy Livoti
Three Rivers and Cabinet Ranger Districts - Dustin Hill
Lolo National Forest
East Zone Archaeologist
Sydney Bacon
Fort Missoula Building 24
Missoula, MT 59804
sydney.bacon@usda.gov
(406) 329-3853
West Zone Archaeologist
Erika Karuzas
5001 Southgate Drive
Billings MT 59107
Vacant
(406) 896-5000
Butte Field Office Archaeologist
PO Box 3388
Butte, MT 59701
Chris Pettyjohn
cpettyjohn@blm.gov
(406) 533-7624
Missoula Field Office Archaeologist
3255 Fort Missoula
Missoula, MT 59804
Jody Miller
jmiller@blm.gov
(406) 329-1058
111 Garryowen Rd
Miles City, MT 59301
CJ Truesdale
ctruesda@blm.gov
(406) 233-2847
Billings Field Office Archaeologist
5001 Southgate Drive
Billings MT 59107
Jennifer Macy
jmacy@blm.gov
(406)896-5234
BLM North Central Montana District Archaeologist
Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument
Lewistown, Malta, Glasgow Field Offices
3990 Highway 2 West
Havre, MT 59501
Josh Chase
406-262-2840 (office)
jchase@blm.gov
Dillon Field Office Archaeologist
1005 Selway Drive
Dillon, MT 59725
Shannon Gilbert
sgilbert@blm.gov
(406) 683-8029
BLM Office of Law Enforcement
Alan Wolf
Assistant Special Agent in Charge
5001 Southgate Drive
Billings, MT 59101
awolf@blm.gov
316 N 26th St
Billings MT 59107
Jo'etta Plumage
Jo’Etta.Plumage@bia.gov
(406) 247-7911
Fax:(406) 247-7976
BOR Montana Area Office Archaeologist
PO Box 30137
Billings, MT 59107
Rick Hanson
Rdhanson@usbr.gov
(406) 247-7666
Bozeman Fish Technology Center
4050 Bridger Canyon Road
Bozeman MT 59715
Allison Parrish
Allison_Parrish@fws.gov
(406) 994-9949
National Park Service
Cultural Resources
PO Box 168
Wyoming 82190
Beth Horton
(307) 344-2290
Beth_Horton@nps.gov
Glacier National Park
National Park Service
Cultural Resources Specialist
West Glacier, MT 59936
Sierra Mandelko
(406) 888-7943
