Utah State Historic Preservation Office

What Utah State Historic Preservation Office does

The Utah State Historic Preservation Office (USHPO), established in 1966 under the federal National Historic Preservation Act, is a state government agency that identifies, evaluates, and protects historic properties throughout Utah. Operating as a division of the Utah Department of Cultural & Community Engagement alongside the Utah Division of Arts & Museums, the Utah Division of Indian Affairs, the Utah Division of Multicultural Affairs, the Utah State Library, the Utah STEM Action Center, Pete Suazo Utah Athletic Commission, and UServeUtah, USHPO coordinates its preservation mandate with the Utah Historical Society to deliver statewide historic preservation, collections management, public education, and community engagement. The agency maintains a library and collections holding over one million photographs (with approximately 300,000 digitized and publicly accessible online), publishes the Utah Historical Quarterly — a peer-reviewed academic journal with 90+ years of continuous publication — and administers a statewide historical markers and monuments program. In 2025, USHPO materially expanded its physical footprint by opening the Museum of Utah, Utah's first dedicated state history museum, inside the Michael O. Leavitt North Capitol Building on the Utah Capitol Complex, with four permanent galleries (Becoming Utah, Inspiring Utah, Connecting Utah, Building Utah) and a rotating temporary exhibit slot.

USHPO's principal offerings are non-commercial: museum visitation and K-12 field trips are free on a first-come, first-served reservation basis; educational resources — I Love History (K-12), History To Go (general audiences), and Peoples Online — are delivered online at no cost, with the I Love History portal available in both English and Spanish. Customer segments span K-12 schools and educators, Utah residents and the general public, academic and family-history researchers, and volunteers and docents. Recurring engagement programs include Civic Season (Juneteenth to July 4, scaling to a 28-organization coalition in 2026), Utah History Month (January, established 2019), Member Month (August), and the Women's History Initiative, with the Historic License Plate Program serving as a self-funded revenue channel. Underlying technology is limited to public-facing digital collections platforms, educational portals, and an email newsletter signup — with no proprietary technology, SaaS product, or commercial API disclosed.

The organization's go-to-market is relationship-driven and partnership-mediated rather than commercial: 70 distinct community partner organizations collaborated with UHS staff in the most recent reporting period, including strategic coordination with the Capitol Preservation Board on combined field trip experiences (with bus funding for qualifying school groups) and minor partnerships with Hogle Zoo and Loveland Living Planet Aquarium to provide volunteer appreciation tickets. Outreach activity spanned ~7,420 miles of travel across Utah, 42 public events hosted statewide, 31 training and workshop sessions, 7,500+ direct program participants, and 5,000+ K-12 students completing research projects or attending events. Revenue is primarily sourced from state legislative appropriations, supplemented by memberships, donations, and ancillary programs; specific financial figures are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Utah State Historic Preservation Office

Legal name

Utah State Historic Preservation Office

Website

https://history.utah.gov

Company type

Private

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Utah State Historic Preservation Office, established in 1966 within Utah's Department of Cultural & Community Engagement, identifies and protects the state's historic properties while operating the Museum of Utah, statewide historical markers, and educational programs serving K-12 schools, researchers, and Utah residents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

State Historical Preservation Services

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712), Museums (712110), Historical Sites (712120), Libraries and Archives (51921)

akta.pro primary industry

Cultural Heritage Institutions (Archives, Historic Houses, Monuments Foundations) (THAJADAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Historic Preservation & Landmarks Conservation (BPAGAHAE), Archives, Special Collections & Preservation Operations (Rare Materials, Conservation) (EDAEAGAJ)

Keywords

• Historic preservation services
• State history museum
• Historical collections archives
• K-12 history education
• Cultural heritage programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Salt Lake City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Utah State Historic Preservation Office is a state government agency that operates the Museum of Utah, maintains historical archives and digital collections, delivers K-12 and public history education programs, publishes the Utah Historical Quarterly, and administers the statewide historic markers and monuments program. It identifies, evaluates, and protects Utah's historic properties and serves as the state's primary public history institution.

Product overview

The Utah State Historic Preservation Office operates as part of the Utah Historical Society, a division of the Utah Department of Cultural & Community Engagement. The organization offers a comprehensive portfolio centered around the Museum of Utah (state's first dedicated history museum) with four permanent galleries (Becoming Utah, Inspiring Utah, Connecting Utah, Building Utah) plus rotating exhibits. Educational offerings include I Love History (K-12 resources in English and Spanish), History To Go (general public resources), and Museum School Programs. The organization maintains extensive Library & Collections with over a million photographs and digital access to approximately 300,000 items. Community engagement programs include Civic Season, Women's History Initiative, Utah History Month, and the Historic License Plate Program. The Museum of Utah houses the main physical presence while digital platforms like Peoples Online and Digital Collections extend access to Utah's history.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Museum of Utah Utah's first state history museum, celebrating unique history, culture, and art through world-class exhibits and programming. Located on the Utah Capitol Complex in the Michael O. Leavitt North Capitol Building. Free admission for the general public.
• Library & Collections Access to Utah's legacy through rare photographs, documents, digital exhibits, and over a million photographs in holdings with approximately 300,000 accessible online. Serves researchers, students, and the public.
• Digital Collections Online searchable database of digitized photographs, documents, and historical materials from the Utah Division of State History collections. Free public access.
• I Love History Online history guide for K-12 teachers and students featuring the many peoples, landscapes, and stories that came together to make Utah. Available in English and Spanish.
• History To Go Online history resource covering Utah's broad history including articles, exhibits, and historic photographs. Free public access.
• Utah Historical Quarterly Academic journal publishing over 90 years of historical research about Utah. Serves scholars, researchers, and history enthusiasts.
• Historical Markers & Monuments Program Statewide program highlighting significant locations that have shaped Utah's culture and heritage, with physical markers and monuments installed across Utah.
• Museum School Programs (Field Trips) Field trip programs including self-guided exploration, guided exploration, and partner field trips with the Utah State Capitol, for K-12 students. Free on first-come, first-served reservation basis.
• Docent Program Volunteer docent opportunities at the Museum of Utah involving specialized training to master collections and visitor engagement, with ability to design and lead custom tours.
• Historic License Plate Program Program allowing supporters to obtain historic license plates to support Utah's historical preservation efforts.
• Civic Season Program Annual program running from Juneteenth (June 19) to July 4, using history to inform and inspire civic participation from Gen Z community, partnering with 28 organizations across Utah.
• Peoples Online Digital platform sharing Utah's diverse peoples' histories and stories. Free public access.
• Women's History Initiative Program dedicated to amplifying women's stories in Utah's larger historical narrative through exhibits, events, and online content.
• Utah History Month Annual January celebration created in 2019 to raise awareness of Utah's rich history and showcase collections, resources, and programs.
• Membership Program Membership program supporting the Utah Historical Society, including the Seagull Circle giving society for higher-level supporters.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• 28 Partner OrganizationscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Civic Season partnership with 28 organizations across Utah hosting 39 events. Partners include local museums, historic sites, libraries, archives, and community organizations working together to use history to inform and inspire civic participation.
• Capitol Preservation BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner field trip program combining Museum of Utah and Utah State Capitol experiences. Includes bus funding for qualifying school groups and coordinated scheduling through the Capitol Field Trip Reservations system.
• Hogle ZoominorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partner providing tickets to volunteers as appreciation rewards for their service hours.
• Loveland Living Planet AquariumminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partner providing tickets to volunteers as appreciation rewards for their service hours.
• Utah Department of Cultural & Community EngagementcoreOthersParent state government department. The Utah Historical Society is a division of DCCE along with: Utah Division of Arts & Museums, Utah Division of Indian Affairs, Utah Division of Multicultural Affairs, Utah State Library, Utah STEM Action Center, Pete Suazo Utah Athletic Commission, and UServeUtah.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Virginia Department of Historic Resources: Virginia DHR is the state historic preservation office administering statewide preservation, historic markers, and heritage education programs. It is a direct functional peer to USHPO in delivering both preservation regulatory services and public-facing history programming.
• History Colorado: History Colorado is Colorado's state historical society and operates state museums, historic sites, and preservation programs. It is the most direct functional peer to USHPO as a state-level historical society with museum operations, educational programming, and statewide preservation mandate.
• New York State Historic Preservation Office: The NY SHPO operates within New York State Parks and administers the state's historic preservation programs under the National Historic Preservation Act. It is a structural peer to USHPO in mandate, federal grant administration, and statewide preservation scope.
• Texas Historical Commission: The Texas Historical Commission is the state agency for historic preservation in Texas, administering federal preservation programs, historic sites, and heritage education. It shares USHPO's structure as a federally-mandated state preservation office with museum-adjacent programming.
• California Office of Historic Preservation: The California OHP is a state government office that identifies, evaluates, and protects historic properties across California under the National Historic Preservation Act. It mirrors USHPO's preservation mandate, federal coordination role, and statewide scope.

Broad incumbents

• Smithsonian Institution: The Smithsonian operates national museums, research centers, and the Smithsonian Archives. It is a broader federal incumbent that competes for visitor mindshare, research partnerships, and educational reach, though at national scale rather than Utah's.
• National Park Service: The National Park Service administers the National Register of Historic Places and coordinates the State Historic Preservation Office program nationwide. It is a broader federal incumbent that sets the regulatory framework within which USHPO operates.
• Library of Congress: The Library of Congress is the federal national library and archival institution, operating large-scale digitization, research, and education programs. It is a broader incumbent peer to USHPO's library and archival operations at national scale.
• National Trust for Historic Preservation: The National Trust is a privately-funded nonprofit that leads national preservation advocacy, membership, and education. It is a broader incumbent operating above USHPO in scope and adjacent in mission on heritage preservation.

Others

• American Association for State and Local History: AASLH is the professional association serving state and local history organizations, providing training, accreditation, and resources. It is an ecosystem enabler for institutions like USHPO rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/utah-state-historic-preservation-office

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Utah State Historic Preservation Office