Pennsylvania's Preservation Community
Connection-communication-preservation
Below we have listed organizations at the local, state and national levels that offer a wealth of knowledge and resources. Successful preservation initiatives are often about building a strong coalition of partners, or finding the person or place with the information most useful to your effort. (Check our Link Library on the Expertise page for additional resources.)
This is by no means an exhaustive list. Preservation Pennsylvania will continue to develop this list to add organizations that reflect the breadth and diversity of our shared heritage. If your organization is actively involved in local preservation efforts and/or is a research center and would like to be listed, please use our contact form to reach out.
Pennsylvania/Statewide
Preservation Pennsylvania
257 North Street
Harrisburg, PA 17101
(717) 234-2310
Fax: (717) 234-2522
info@preservationpa.org
http://www.preservationpa.org
Mindy G. Crawford, Executive Director
Preservation Pennsylvania is the state's only private, nonprofit membership organization dedicated to historic preservation. We work with staff at the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), assist local groups, intervene in preservation issues, advocate for state legislative support, provide membership and educational programs, issue publications, engage in real estate and revolving fund programs and serve as an information clearinghouse.
State Museum Building
300 North Street
Harrisburg, PA 17120-0024
(717) 787-3362
www.phmc.pa.gov/
Andrea Lowery
PHMC Executive Director / State Historic Preservation Officer
(717) 783-8946
alowery@pa.gov
Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office (PA SHPO)
Commonwealth Keystone Building, 2nd Floor
400 North Street
Harrisburg, PA 17120-0093
(717) 787-8946
Bureau Director / Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer
(717) 783-8946
amacdonald@pa.gov
Doug McLearen
Division Chief, Archaeology and Protection
(717) 772-0925
dmclearen@pa.gov
HeritagePA
(814) 940-1922
http://heritagepa.com/
HeritagePA is an association of the twelve Pennsylvania Heritage Regions. They work collaboratively to share best practices and promote the state's heritage areas.
Pennsylvania Downtown Center
1230 North Third Street
Harrisburg, PA 17102
(717) 233-4675
Fax: (717) 233-4690
padowntown@padowntown.org
http://www.padowntown.org
Julie Fitzpatrick, Executive Director
Pennsylvania's statewide nonprofit dedicated to the vitality, management and economic development of Pennsylvania's downtowns and business districts. The Pennsylvania Downtown Center also administers the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Main Street and Elm Street programs.
PA Museums
300 North Street
Room 504
Harrisburg, PA 17120
(Nonprofit office located inside the Pennsylvania State Museum in Harrisburg)
717-909-4951
Rusty Baker, Executive Director
rusty.baker@pamuseums.org
Founded in 1905, PA Museums is Pennsylvania’s statewide trade association serving museum professionals and institutions. PA Museums is a non-profit membership organization and its membership includes museums, historic sites, history organizations, zoos, science and nature centers, arboreta, and children’s museums that engage millions of visitors annually with world class collections and programs.
www.10000friends.org
Harrisburg, PA 17101
(717) 234-6070
Stacie Reidenbaugh, President and CEO
sreidenbaugh@10000friends.org
West PA:
Pittsburgh
Tom Hardy
Southwest Director
(412) 874-7351
thardy@10000friends.org
An alliance of organizations and individuals committed to promoting sound land use policies and actions. 10,000 Friends seeks growth and development that will support the economic and social viability of landscapes, environmental quality, and heritage resources.
National Preservation Community
National Trust for Historic Preservation
Suite 1100
Washington, DC 20037
(800) 944-6847
Fax: (202) 588-6038
info@savingplaces.org
National Trust for Historic Preservation website
Chicago, IL 60604
(312) 610-5604
local/Community preservation
There's a saying that preservation happens locally. Attend local municipal meetings. Vote in local elections. Reach out to your local historic house museums and historical societies.
We reached out to local historical societies about being listed in our statewide preservation network and those listed below eagerly await the opportunity to connect with you! Engage and support their work!
Beaver County Historical Research & Landmarks Foundation
1235 Third Avenue
Freedom, PA 15042
724-775-1848
www.bchrlf.org
House museum, reference library and local Beaver County resources
Centre County Historical Society
Mary Sorensen
1001 East College Ave.
814-234-4779
CentreHistory.org
The official county historical society for Centre County, housed at the Centre Furnace Mansion where CCHS maintains historical, archival and limited genealogy collections.
Chester Historical Preservation Committee
2320 Chestnut Street
Chester, PA 19013
610-316-2978
Public education about historic preservation.
Chestnut Hill Conservancy
8708 Germantown Avenue
Philadelphia, PA
215-247-9329
www.chconservancy.org
The Chestnut Hill Conservancy was founded in 1967 as the Chestnut Hill Historical Society and is an educational center and advocate for the architecture, open space, and social history of Chestnut Hill and surrounding communities. Through programs and the Archives (with over 21,000 photographs, maps, records, and more), the CH Conservancy is dedicated to preserving and interpreting the Chestnut Hill area’s heritage. An innovative easement program preserves open space and historic facades in partnership with the Friends of the Wissahickon. Advocacy for preservation of historic buildings is initiated by the CH Conservancy and supported by our Resource Center, which directly advises homeowners on their care of their property, from maintenance to restoration to adaptive reuse.
Clinton County Historical Society
362 E. Water Street
Lock Haven, PA 17745
570-745-7254
info@clintonpahistory.org www.ClintonPaHistory.org
We own five historic properties and offer tours, free monthly programs and research into Clinton County history.
Delaware County Historic and Preservation Network (DCHPN)
610-891-5223
dchpn_planning@yahoo.com https://delcohpn.wixsite.com/dchpn
The website has an Events page, Useful links, Presentations and publications, Public forum, and Blog. The DCHPN hosts quarterly meetings to help historical organizations and sends out a monthly e-newsletter and has a listserv to communicate. The DCHPN's mission is to provide support and advice, to coordinate communications, and to encourage personal contacts and build relationships among the 80+ historic and preservation organizations and their leaders in Delaware County.
Delaware County Historical Society
408 Avenue of the States
Chester, PA 19013
610-359-0832 director@padelcohistory.org padelcohistory.org
Delaware County Historical Society collects, protects and preserves the history and culture of Delaware County through strong educational outreach.
Friends of the Delaware Canal
145 South Main Street
215-862-2021
friends@fodc.org
www.fodc.org
Information and photographs related to the Delaware Canal, its structures, and surrounding properties.
Historic Harrisburg Association
1230 N 3rd Street
Harrisburg, PA 17102
717-233-4646 info@historicharrisburg.org https://historicharrisburg.org/ Historic Harrisburg Association has been promoting historic preservation, urban revitalization and smart growth since 1973. Serving Pennsylvania’s Capital Region with 400 members, a dozen volunteer committees and a small staff, HHA conducts house tours, walking tours, free educational programming, preservation “how to” seminars, and other preservation-related events throughout the year. Other functions include our annual “Preservation Priorities” list, annual Preservation Awards, an architecture and preservation library, and preservation advocacy before HARB and other municipal boards.
Huntingdon County Historical Society
106 4th Street
Huntingdon, PA
814-643-5449
hchsmail@gmail.com www.huntingdonhistory.org
As the county's official historical society, the organization works to preserve information and objects relating to the history of the county and also has a genealogical research library featuring local families.
Lower Swatara Township Historic Preservation Society
PO Box 338
Middletown, PA 17057 -0338
717-944-9891 lsthistoricpreservationsociety@gmail.com
lsthistoricpreservation.org
The mission of the Lower Swatara Township Historic Preservation Society is to identify, educate, promote interest in, and advocate for the preservation of historic buildings, cemeteries, and landscapes in Lower Swatara Township.
Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation
100 West Station Square Drive, Suite 450
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
412-471-5808
https://phlf.org/
Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia
1608 Walnut Street, Suite 1702
Philadelphia, PA 19103
215-546-1146
info@preservationalliance.com
www.preservationalliance.com
Sign up for their newsletter to stay on top of preservation issues and events in the greater Philadelphia area. Check out the Young Friends group for even more preservation opportunities.
Preservation Pittsburgh
1501 Reedsdale St., Suite 5003, Pittsburgh, Pa 15233, USA412.256.8755
info@preservationpgh.org
www.preservationpgh.org/
A community-based, advocacy organization that "believes everyone deserves a voice in preserving our city."
Quakertown Historical Society
P.O. Box 846
Quakertown PA 18951
267-227-3864 Quakertownhistoricalsociety@gmail.com
Quakertownhistoricalsociety.org
Tours & Local Research
Sewickley Valley Historical Society
200 Broad Street
Sewickley, PA 15143
412-741-5315 info@sewickleyhistory.org www.sewickleyhistory.org
Historic house and genealogical research for the Sewickley Valley
Southern Lancaster County Historical Society
PO Box 33
Quarryville PA 17566
717-548-2679
solancohistorical@gmail.com
southernlancasterhistory.org
Preserves history of southern Lancaster County, PA; tours of the Robert Fulton Birthplace.
Sullivan County Historical Society
P. O. Box 252
458 Meylert Street
570-946-5020
museum@scpahistory.com www.scpahistory.com
The Sullivan County Historical Society's museum preserves the county's history, genealogies and obituaries for public use.