Florida Bureau of Archaeological Research

What Florida Bureau of Archaeological Research does

The Florida Bureau of Archaeological Research is a state government bureau operating within the Division of Historical Resources, Florida Department of State, headquartered at the B. Calvin Jones Center for Archaeology in Tallahassee, Florida. The Bureau is the official state steward of Florida's archaeological heritage, with statutory authority over archaeological resources on public lands and regulatory oversight of cultural resource protection across the state. Its portfolio spans three operating units within the Division: Archaeological Research (collections, underwater archaeology, public lands, cultural resource protection, education, human remains handling), Historical Museums (Museum of Florida History, Mission San Luis, Knott House Museum, The Grove Museum, Union Bank Museum), and Historic Preservation (compliance review, National Register nominations, Certified Local Governments, Florida Main Street Program, Historical Markers, Great Floridians, Heritage Trails, Historic Cemeteries Program).

The Bureau's offerings are public heritage programs rather than commercial products. Core programs include the Master Site File database for tracking historical and archaeological sites, the Florida History in 3D digital platform using three-dimensional photogrammetry for artifact presentation, the Florida Historic Golf Trail, the Florida Main Street Program and mobile application supporting 52 communities with 3,600+ businesses, the Historical Markers Program, and grant programs including Small Matching Grants, Special Category Grants, and Abandoned African-American Cemeteries Grants. Underwater archaeology — particularly work on the Spanish Plate Fleet shipwrecks — is a notable specialty.

The Bureau is funded entirely through state budget appropriations and grant programs; it does not generate commercial revenue, charge user fees for core services, or have external shareholders. Its customer base comprises Florida residents and visitors (public access to museums and educational programs), state and local government agencies (compliance review, permitting, technical assistance), and academic researchers and educators (collections access, collaborative research). Marketing and outreach occur through the Division website, Facebook, Instagram (@flheritage), Archaeology Month events, and digital initiatives. The Bureau is led under Secretary of State Cord Byrd and operates as an administrative unit of the State of Florida.

Name

Florida Bureau of Archaeological Research

Legal name

Florida Division of Historical Resources

Website

https://flheritage.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Florida Bureau of Archaeological Research is a state government bureau within the Florida Division of Historical Resources that preserves, manages, and promotes Florida's archaeological, historical, and folk culture resources through museums, archaeological research, preservation programs, and grant administration for the public and government agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Heritage and Archaeological Research Services

NAICS

Museums (712110), Museums (71211), Historical Sites (71212), Administration of Conservation Programs (92412)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Museums & Heritage Sites (History, Science, Specialty) (BPAGAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cultural Heritage Institutions (Archives, Historic Houses, Monuments Foundations) (THAJADAI), Archives, Special Collections & Preservation Operations (Rare Materials, Conservation) (EDAEAGAJ)

Keywords

• Archaeological research
• Cultural resource management
• Historic preservation
• Public heritage education
• Museum collections management

Headquarters

HQ city

Tallahassee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Florida Bureau of Archaeological Research conducts and manages statewide archaeological research, cultural resource protection, collections conservation, and historic preservation programs on behalf of the State of Florida. It operates multiple state museums, administers grant programs for preservation projects, maintains the Master Site File database of historical and archaeological sites, and provides regulatory compliance review for development projects affecting cultural resources. Public-facing offerings include museum exhibits, educational programs, the Florida History in 3D digital platform, and the Florida Main Street and Florida Historic Golf Trail programs.

Product overview

The Florida Bureau of Archaeological Research, operating within the Division of Historical Resources, offers a portfolio of public heritage programs rather than a commercial product. The core offerings include the Florida History in 3D digital platform using photogrammetry, the Florida Main Street Program supporting 52 communities, the Florida Historic Golf Trail, the Museum of Florida History, the Master Site File database, and various archaeological and preservation services including grants programs and historical marker documentation. These programs work together to preserve, document, and promote Florida's historical, archaeological, and folk culture resources for public education and economic development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Florida Main Street Program: Economic development program focused on historic downtown commercial districts
• Florida Historic Golf Trail
• Florida History in 3D
• Florida Heritage Trails
• Great Floridians Program

Products and services

• Florida History in 3D Digital platform using three-dimensional photogrammetry techniques to present artifacts held in the state collection, including items recovered from the Spanish Plate Fleet shipwrecks, made available to the public and researchers online.
• Florida Main Street Program

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation: Operates state historic sites and provides preservation services - a multi-bureau state agency model with comparable scope to Florida's Division of Historical Resources.
• Texas Historical Commission: State agency counterpart in Texas performing the same archaeological review, historic preservation, and heritage program functions for state-owned and state-managed resources.
• Virginia Department of Historic Resources: Virginia's state historic resources office responsible for archaeological compliance, National Register nominations, and state-owned historic property stewardship - mirror of Florida's Division of Historical Resources.
• Georgia Historic Preservation Division: State agency under Georgia Department of Community Affairs handling National Register reviews, historic preservation grants, and archaeology regulatory oversight.
• North Carolina Office of State Archaeology: State-level archaeology unit under NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources providing archaeological research, collections, and underwater archaeology comparable to Florida's Bureau.

Others

• Society for American Archaeology: Professional organization whose members constitute the user community for Florida's archaeological collections, Master Site File, and research access programs.

Broad incumbents

• National Park Service - Archaeology Program: Federal-level counterpart providing grants, technical guidance, and standards that govern how state archaeological bureaus like Florida's operate and access federal funding.

Regional players

• South Carolina Department of Natural Resources - Maritime Division: Conducts underwater archaeology and manages cultural resources on South Carolina state-owned submerged lands, directly comparable to Florida's underwater archaeology program.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/flheritage
• Facebookfacebook.com/FLDeptofState
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/florida-bureau-of-archaeological-research

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Florida Bureau of Archaeological Research