Rhode Island Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission

What Rhode Island Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission does

The Rhode Island Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission (HPHC) is the State Historic Preservation Office for Rhode Island, established in 1968 and headquartered in Providence. The agency was formed in its current configuration in 1995 when the Rhode Island Heritage Commission (founded 1977) merged with the Rhode Island Historical Preservation Commission, combining cultural heritage programming with statutory preservation functions. HPHC operates from the Old State House (1760-62), one of six surviving colonial-era state houses in America, which completed a 20-month restoration and reopened on May 4, 2026. As a government state entity, HPHC functions as a regulatory body, research team, and advisor, serving Rhode Island's 39 municipalities, property owners, federal and state agencies, nonprofit preservation organizations, and the general public.

HPHC's core services span nine functional areas: (1) National and State Register nomination processing (17,500+ National Register properties; 45 National Historic Landmarks); (2) mandatory Section 106 regulatory review under the National Historic Preservation Act for federally assisted or publicly sited projects; (3) administration of state and federal historic tax credit programs (3% certification fee on Qualified Rehabilitation Expenditures); (4) preservation grants — Certified Local Government grants and State Preservation Grants, with $16.5M deployed to municipalities over the last 10 years; (5) an archaeology program documenting 2,800+ sites and issuing archaeological permits; (6) cemetery resources for 2,833+ documented historic cemeteries; (7) state preservation publications (58+ publications covering all 39 RI towns); (8) an online Historic Property Database with 19,000+ searchable entries; and (9) cultural heritage programming including the annual Rhode Island Heritage Festival (since 1977). The agency's technology footprint is administrative — no proprietary AI/ML systems, no APIs, no SDKs; the "tech stack" is the Historic Property Search Tool (a public database) plus standard website and social media channels.

HPHC's business model is government appropriations-based, not commercial. Revenue sources are: (a) Rhode Island state appropriations (the majority of budget); (b) federal Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) allocations derived from offshore oil and gas lease fees, providing approximately $700,000 annually (~20% of budget); and (c) minor fee-based revenue from public records requests ($0.15/page photocopies, $15/hour staff search after first free hour) and tax credit certification (3% of QRE). The HPF was not released by July 1, 2025, creating an underfunding risk. Customers — municipalities, property owners, federal agencies, nonprofits — are distributed and non-commercial. The 15-member Commission (10 gubernatorial appointees, 5 ex officio) governs the agency in a volunteer capacity, supported by a staff of approximately 14 specialists including historians, architectural historians, archaeologists, and architects.

Name

Rhode Island Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission

Legal name

Rhode Island Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission

Website

https://preservation.ri.gov

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Rhode Island Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission (HPHC) is the state's designated State Historic Preservation Office, regulating historic property preservation, administering grants and tax credits, and maintaining Rhode Island's National Register of 17,500+ historic properties for municipalities, property owners, and federal agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Historic Preservation Services

NAICS

Historical Sites (712120), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121)

akta.pro primary industry

Historic Preservation & Landmarks Conservation (BPAGAHAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cultural Heritage Institutions (Archives, Historic Houses, Monuments Foundations) (THAJADAI), Parks, Recreation & Protected Areas Administration (BPAIAMAH)

Keywords

• Historic preservation services
• State historic preservation
• Regulatory project review
• Historic tax credits
• Cultural heritage programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Providence

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. State Appropriations: State funding allocated through Rhode Island state government budget
2. Federal Historic Preservation Fund (HPF): Federal funding from the Historic Preservation Fund, which is funded through offshore oil and gas lease fees. Represents approximately 20% of budget (~$700,000 annually). The agency distributes 10% of HPF funding to Certified Local Government communities via grants.
3. Fee-based Services: Fees for public records requests (photocopies at $0.15/page, staff search time at $15/hour after first free hour); Tax credit certification fee of 3% of Qualified Rehabilitation Expenditures

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Rhode Island Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission is the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) for Rhode Island, dedicated to identifying and protecting historic buildings, sites, districts, landscapes, and archaeological sites. It performs regulatory review of projects under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, processes National Register and State Register nominations, certifies state and federal historic tax credits, awards preservation grants, and manages the state's archaeology and cultural heritage programs including the annual Heritage Festival.

Product overview

The Rhode Island Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission (RIHPHC) operates as a state government agency offering a portfolio of preservation services organized around historic property documentation, regulatory review, and cultural heritage celebration. The core offerings include the Historic Property Search Tool for exploring 19,000+ properties, the National Historic Landmarks Program, National and State Register nomination services, Project Review Services for regulatory compliance, Historic Tax Credit Programs, Preservation Grants, State Preservation Publications, the Archaeology Program, and the Cultural Heritage & Heritage Festival program. These services work together to identify, protect, document, and celebrate Rhode Island's historic places and diverse cultural heritage.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Historic Property Search Tool Online searchable database enabling users to look up and learn about 19,000+ historic properties in Rhode Island, including National Register and State Register-listed properties.
• National Register Nominations Service for nominating and listing properties in the National Register of Historic Places, with Rhode Island having over 17,500 National Register-listed properties.
• State Register of Historic Places State-level registry including nearly 20,000 historic and prehistoric resources, including National Register properties and locally significant sites.
• Project Review Services Regulatory review of projects involving federal or state funds, permits, or properties to ensure compliance with historic preservation laws under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and Rhode Island Historic Preservation Act.
• Historic Tax Credit Programs Administration of both State and Federal historic tax credit programs to help property owners offset costs of substantial restoration and rehabilitation projects.
• Preservation Grants Grant programs including Certified Local Government (CLG) grants and State Preservation Grants for municipalities, non-profits, and federally-recognized tribes.
• Archaeology Program Documentation and preservation of Rhode Island's archaeological resources, maintaining records of over 2,800 known archaeological sites and issuing permits for archaeological studies.
• National Historic Landmarks Program Program identifying and documenting properties of exceptional national significance in Rhode Island, including 45 National Historic Landmarks.
• Cultural Heritage & Heritage Festival Program celebrating diverse cultural heritage of Rhode Islanders through the annual Heritage Festival and supporting heritage organizations statewide.
• Cemetery Resources Resources for documenting and preserving Rhode Island's 2,833+ documented historic cemeteries, including regulations, volunteer transcription projects, and preservation guidance.
• State Preservation Publications Digital publications covering Rhode Island's 39 towns, historic neighborhoods, and thematic studies documenting architectural and cultural heritage.

Quantifiable outcome

• Rhode Island has 45 National Historic Landmarks and 17,500+ National Register properties
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• 1696 Heritage GroupminorOthersAfrican heritage organization listed in the HPHC cultural heritage organizations directory for networking and collaboration on heritage preservation.
• African Alliance of Rhode IslandminorOthersAfrican heritage organization listed in cultural heritage organizations directory.
• African American Museum of Rhode IslandminorOthersMuseum organization for African American heritage, listed for heritage collaboration.
• Rhode Island Latino ArtsminorOthersMarta Martínez, founder and executive director, serves on the HPHC Commission, demonstrating formal collaboration.
• Tomaquag MuseumminorOthersSilvermoon Mars LaRose, Narragansett tribal citizen and assistant director of Tomaquag Museum, serves on the HPHC Commission, demonstrating formal Indigenous heritage collaboration.
• Rhode Island Black Heritage SocietyminorOthersCo-publisher with HPHC of 'African Americans in Newport: An Introduction to the Heritage of African Americans in Newport, Rhode Island 1700-1945' (1998).
• National Conference of State Historic Preservation OfficerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization that organizes Advocacy Week in Washington, DC. HPHC Executive Director participates in national advocacy efforts and policy discussions.
• Preservation ActioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational nonprofit advocacy organization that co-organizes National Historic Preservation Advocacy Week with NCSHPO.
• National Park ServicecoreTechnology or IntegrationFederal agency overseeing National Register program and Historic Preservation Fund. HPHC submits National Register nominations to NPS for approval. NPS reviews and approves HPHC's State Historic Preservation Plan as required by NHPA.
• Federal Agencies (General)coreTechnology or IntegrationAll federal agencies must consult with HPHC under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act for projects affecting historic properties.
• RI Congressional DelegationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHPHC maintains ongoing engagement with Rhode Island's Congressional representatives (Senators Reed, Whitehouse; Representatives Amo, Magaziner) for preservation policy and funding advocacy.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Connecticut State Historic Preservation Office: Connecticut's SHPO, operating under the same National Historic Preservation Act framework as HPHC. Handles identical regulatory, grantmaking, and National Register responsibilities for a neighboring New England state.
• New York State Historic Preservation Office: The SHPO for New York, administering National Register, Section 106, and state historic tax credit programs. Same statutory mandate and operational model as HPHC, scaled to a much larger state.
• Massachusetts Historical Commission: The State Historic Preservation Office for Massachusetts, performing the same Section 106 review, National Register nomination, and historic tax credit functions as HPHC. Comparable agency structure, scope, and statutory authority make this the closest functional peer.
• Vermont Division for Historic Preservation: Vermont's SHPO, providing identical National Register, project review, and grant-administration services. Most directly comparable to HPHC in terms of small-state scope, staffing, and program mix.
• New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources: New Hampshire's SHPO with a similar small-state scale and structure to HPHC. Conducts Section 106 review, National Register nominations, and preservation grant administration under the same federal framework.

Broad incumbents

• National Park Service: The federal agency that oversees the National Register program and Historic Preservation Fund. HPHC submits nominations to NPS for final approval and is a direct grantee, making NPS the most significant upstream counterparty.
• National Trust for Historic Preservation: The leading private national preservation organization, providing grants, advocacy, and programming that complement (but do not duplicate) HPHC's regulatory role. Most analogous private-sector national peer.
• Advisory Council on Historic Preservation: The independent federal agency that sets policy for Section 106 review and oversees the federal preservation process. HPHC's project review work operates within the framework established by ACHP.

Others

• National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers: The membership organization of all 50+ SHPOs, of which HPHC is a member. HPHC's executive director participates in NCSHPO-led national advocacy, making it the most relevant intergovernmental peer body.

Regional players

• Preservation Society of Newport County: A Rhode Island-based nonprofit preservation organization that operates historic house museums and engages in advocacy and education. Most prominent local peer in the Rhode Island preservation ecosystem, though it operates a different model (museum operator vs. regulatory office).

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCaG1czr9YRl_f2zuzi-y4aA
• Facebookfacebook.com/ristatepreservation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rihphc
• Instagraminstagram.com/ristatepreservation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Rhode Island Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission