Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation

What Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation does

The Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP) is Washington's primary state agency with statutory authority over historic preservation, serving as the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). The agency conducts regulatory compliance reviews under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), Governor's Executive Order 21-02, the Forest Practices Act, and the Shoreline Management Act, and issues archaeological permits. DAHP also maintains and administers the Heritage Barn Register, Washington Heritage Register, and National Register nomination process; runs the Certified Local Government (CLG) Program, Main Street Program, and Federal Historic Tax Credit administration; and operates grant programs including the Heritage Barn Grants (50/50 matching, $50,000 cap) and Historic Cemetery Grant Program ($50,000 cap, no match required).

DAHP's core technology platform is WISAARD (Washington Information System for Architectural and Archaeological Records Data), a web-based GIS portal and searchable database serving as the official statewide repository for over 629,000 historic properties, 32,000+ archaeological sites, 28,000+ cultural resource reports, and 1,800+ historic cemeteries and burial sites. WISAARD Shorts provide brief video training sessions on portal functions. The DAHP Academy delivers free recorded and live webinars on preservation compliance, regulatory processes, and WISAARD usage.

DAHP's business model is structured as a state government department funded primarily through Washington State legislative appropriations, supplemented by federal pass-through funds from the National Park Service (NPS) for Historic Preservation grants and programs. Core regulatory services (project reviews, SHPO letters, archaeological permits) are provided at no charge. Grant programs follow biennial funding cycles with specific per-project caps. The agency is headquartered in the historic Thurston County Courthouse at 1110 S. Capitol Way, Suite 30, Olympia, WA, and serves four primary customer segments: federal and state agencies, local and tribal governments, private property owners/developers, and cultural resource management (CRM) consulting firms. Staff of approximately 25-30 employees are organized into the Built Environment Unit, Archaeological Unit, Anthropology Unit, Records Management Unit, GIS Unit, and Administrative Unit.

Name

Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation

Legal name

Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation

Website

https://dahp.wa.gov

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Washington State government agency serving as the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), providing regulatory reviews under Section 106/SEPA, administering grant programs, and maintaining the WISAARD GIS portal with statewide historic and archaeological records for federal/state agencies, tribal and local governments, and private property owners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Historic Preservation Services

NAICS

Historical Sites (71212), Libraries and Archives (519210)

akta.pro primary industry

National Archives, Records & Information Governance (BPAIAAAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Parks, Recreation & Protected Areas Administration (BPAIAMAH), State/Provincial Environmental Protection & Natural Resources Administration (BPAIABAL)

Keywords

• Historic preservation services
• Cultural resource management
• Archaeological permitting
• State historic preservation
• Heritage grant programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Olympia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. State Government Appropriations: DAHP is a Washington State government agency funded primarily through state legislative appropriations. It also administers federal pass-through funds from programs such as the National Park Service (NPS) for Historic Preservation grants.
2. Federal Historic Tax Credits: The agency administers the Federal Historic Tax Credit program for income-producing historic rehabilitation projects in Washington State, facilitating federal tax incentives for private property owners.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

DAHP serves as Washington's State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), providing statutory regulatory reviews (Section 106, SEPA, GEO 21-02, archaeological permits), administering historic registers (National Register, Washington Heritage Register, Heritage Barn Register), grant programs (Heritage Barn, Historic Cemetery, CLG Grants), tax incentives (Federal Historic Tax Credit, Special Valuation), and training via DAHP Academy. The WISAARD portal serves as the official statewide GIS-based records system for historic properties and archaeological sites.

Product overview

The Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP) operates a comprehensive platform for historic preservation and archaeology, anchored by the WISAARD (Washington Information System for Architectural and Archaeological Records Data) portal for exploring historic sites and property data. DAHP's offerings span multiple interconnected registers (Heritage Barn Register, Washington Heritage Register, National Register nominations), grant programs (Heritage Barn Grants, Historic Cemetery Grant Program, CLG Grants), tax incentive programs (Federal Historic Tax Credit, Special Valuation), and regulatory compliance services (Section 106, SEPA, Archaeological Permitting). Additional programs include the DAHP Academy training platform, Main Street Program for downtown districts, and the annual PLACES Conference for professional development. The department maintains records on over 32,000 archaeological sites, over 2,900 cemeteries, and over 629,000 historic properties.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• WISAARD (Washington Information System for Architectural and Archaeological Records Data) Online portal for exploring Washington State's historic sites on interactive maps, searching for photos, and accessing National Register nominations and property inventory forms. Used by researchers, government agencies, property owners, and the public.
• DAHP Academy Training and educational sessions covering Section 106 compliance, Executive Order 21-02, tax credits, building forms, standards for rehabilitation, and WISAARD system usage for preservation professionals.
• Heritage Barn Register and Heritage Barn Grants Program A statewide register documenting heritage barns with a 50/50 matching grant program for historic barn repair and restoration projects, with priority given to barns in active agricultural use. Awards capped at $50,000 per project.
• Historic Cemetery Grant Program State capital grant program for construction, rehabilitation, or renovation of decaying or abandoned cemeteries that preserves historic character and features, with grants up to $50,000 per project and a 10-year maintenance requirement.
• Washington Heritage Register Washington State's own register of historic places, distinct from the federal National Register program. Honors properties of statewide significance.
• National Register of Historic Places Nominations Administration of the federal National Register of Historic Places nomination process for significant buildings, structures, sites, objects, and districts in Washington State, with information on criteria and listing results.
• Certified Local Government (CLG) Program Program for certifying local governments with access to CLG grants, training resources, and technical assistance for local preservation activities. CLG participants receive grant prioritization and DAHP training.
• Main Street Program Program supporting historic downtown commercial districts with tax credit programs, design guidance for storefronts, and resources for building rehabilitation.
• Federal Historic Tax Credit Program Administration Administration of the Federal Historic Tax Credit program for income-producing historic rehabilitation projects in Washington State, facilitating federal tax incentives for private property owners.
• Special Tax Valuation Program Special property tax valuation program offering financial incentives for historic preservation properties in Washington State.
• Project Review Services (Section 106, SEPA, GEO 21-02) Regulatory compliance services including Section 106 reviews, SEPA reviews, Archaeological Permitting, and Governor's Executive Order 21-02 consultations for federal and state project impacts on historic resources. Provided free of charge.
• Archaeological Permitting Permitting system for archaeological work in Washington State, administered by the Archaeology Unit. Required for archaeological fieldwork and investigations.
• Survey & Inventory Services Programs for surveying and inventorying archaeological sites and historic buildings throughout Washington State, producing the official statewide records database.
• Site Stewardship Program Program for monitoring and protecting archaeological sites and historic properties through volunteer and partner monitoring efforts.
• PLACES Conference Annual conference for preservation professionals covering issues related to cultural resource management and historic preservation, providing professional development and networking.

Quantifiable outcome

• Heritage Barn Grant Program has invested $1,785,000 in state funds generating over $4 million in historic barn rehabilitation across 85 projects in 30 counties.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Washington State tribal governments (various)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDAHP conducts mandatory tribal consultation under Section 106, GEO 21-02, and state law for projects affecting archaeological sites and cultural resources. The agency hosts an annual Tribal Summit (notably the 2023 Tribal Summit on Renewable Energy Siting) and maintains ongoing consultation relationships with tribal nations across Washington State.
• Federal agencies (FHWA, Army Corps of Engineers, BLM, Forest Service, etc.)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal agencies conducting projects in Washington State are required to consult with DAHP (as the State Historic Preservation Officer) under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. DAHP reviews and provides determinations on all federally-connected projects affecting cultural resources.
• Washington State local governments (Certified Local Government Program participants)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDAHP certifies and partners with local governments through the Certified Local Government (CLG) Program. CLG participants receive prioritization for DAHP grants, access to training, and technical assistance. There are multiple CLG participants across Washington State municipalities.
• National Park Service (NPS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDAHP receives federal pass-through funding from the National Park Service (NPS) for Historic Preservation programs including the Federal Historic Tax Credit program and various preservation grants. NPS provides the primary federal authorization and funding framework for DAHP's SHPO functions.
• Heritage Barn Advisory CommitteeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Heritage Barn Committee, chaired by Advisory Council on Historic Preservation member Jeri Honeyford, includes representatives from the Association of Washington Counties, Farm Bureau, Cattlemen's Association, DAHP, and Washington Association of County Officials. This committee reviews and scores Heritage Barn Grant applications.
• Washington State Advisory Council on Historic PreservationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA state advisory body that provides guidance on historic preservation policy. DAHP provides staff support and works closely with the Council on matters including National Register nominations and Heritage Barn program administration.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Oregon State Historic Preservation Office: Oregon's state SHPO administering the same Section 106 review, National Register, and historic preservation grant functions as DAHP. Closest geographic and functional peer for a Pacific Northwest state-level preservation agency.
• Colorado Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation: Colorado's combined archaeology and historic preservation state office. Nearly identical functional mandate to DAHP (combined archaeology + built environment preservation under one state agency), making it a close structural peer.
• Texas Historical Commission: Texas's combined historic preservation and archaeology state agency. Comparable scope to DAHP, including historic property review, archaeological permitting, courthouse preservation grants, and heritage tourism programs.
• California Office of Historic Preservation: California's state SHPO performing parallel duties: Section 106 review, National/Washington Heritage Register equivalents, archaeological permitting, and tax credit administration. Directly comparable mission and statutory authority to DAHP at larger scale.
• Virginia Department of Historic Resources: Virginia's state agency for archaeology and historic preservation. Directly comparable to DAHP in combining archaeology, built environment review, Register listings, and easement/grant programs under one state entity.
• New York State Historic Preservation Office: New York State's SHPO, operating under the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation. Performs the same federal Section 106 review, state Register of Historic Places, and rehabilitation tax credit functions as DAHP.
• Florida Division of Historical Resources: Florida's combined historical resources state office administering Section 106 review, National Register, archaeological permitting, and preservation grants. Functionally equivalent to DAHP's combined preservation/archaeology mandate.

Broad incumbents

• Advisory Council on Historic Preservation: Independent federal agency that advises on historic preservation policy and oversees Section 106 implementation nationally. Sets the framework within which DAHP operates its project reviews.
• National Park Service: Federal agency providing pass-through funding and statutory authorization framework (National Historic Preservation Act) that underpins DAHP's SHPO functions. Operates as the federal umbrella body above state SHPOs.

Others

• National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers: National membership association representing all state SHPOs including DAHP. Acts as the coordinating and advocacy body for the state-level preservation offices that are DAHP's direct peers.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@washingtondahp5069/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/WASHPO
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/washpo
• Instagraminstagram.com/washingtonshpo

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation