[Heritage] Oregon Heritage News 2025-07-18

Fri Jul 18 12:07:02 PDT 2025

Oregon Heritage News 2025-07-18
In this Issue:

  *   Oregon Main Street Revitalization Grant - Funding
  *   Oregon Heritage Commission to meet July 27-28 in St. Helens and Rainier and online, seeks to fill two open positions
  *   Oregon Heritage invites you to Share information about Oregon Women’s Labor History locations
  *   Marion Dean Ross/Pacific Northwest Chapter of the Society of Architectural Historians "mini" conference - proposal due soon
  *   Collection conservation grant resources
  *   2025 Pacific Northwest Preservation Field School - applications open
  *   Article on Recruiting New Museum Board Members

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Oregon Main Street Revitalization Grant - Funding
The Oregon Main Street Revitalization Grant was not funded during the 2025 Oregon Legislative session. Typically, the grant cycles are every other year, so there is no funding for the 2027 grant cycle.
>From the information we have gathered, the decision to remove the funding from the SB 5531 lottery bond package, was not due to opposition to the program. Several other factors may have influenced this decision.

  *   A high number of new legislators who are not as familiar with the program.
  *   Lack of testimony to support the funding.
  *   Competition from critical infrastructure projects including water, sewer, and housing. Some of these projects would have typically been funded by federal grants like Community Development Block Grant and others offered by USDA, programs that are now uncertain or unavailable.
Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) where Oregon Main Street is housed, is fully supportive of this grant program and funding. It was in OPRD’s budget which was approved by the Governor. The other thing to note is that when the Oregon Main Street Grant enabling bill was passed, it created it as a permanent grant program. However, the funding is not permanent and must be replenished each grant cycle. The grant could be funded in a variety of ways by the state and private entities. Since the inception of the program, the legislature has authorized funding through the lottery bond package. So, the grant program doesn’t go away, it is just currently unfunded.
There could be an opportunity to seek funding in another lottery bond package or other sources during the short legislative session (for funding in 2027) and or the 2027 full session (for funding in 2029). OPRD will work in coordination with the Governor’s office on any future funding requests. . As always, private individuals and organizations may reach out to legislators about the program and  funding.OPRD staff are available to provide information and  i happy to meet with legislators when requested..
Please see the Oregon Main Street Revitalization Grant section of our website<https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/OH/Pages/Grants.aspx> to access information about the program, the results, and the funding.

  *    2025 Awarded grants<https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/OH/Documents/2025ORMainStreetRevitalizationGrantAwards.pdf>
  *   2023 Awarded grants<https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/OH/Documents/2023OMSRGrantAwards.pdf>
  *   2022 Awarded grants<https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/OH/Documents/2022OregonMainStreetRevitalizationGrantAwards.pdf>
  *   Oregon Main Street Revitalization Grant Impacts<https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/OH/Documents/2025JanuaryMainStreetGrantResults.pdf>

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Oregon Heritage Commission to meet July 27-28 in St. Helens and Rainier and online, seeks to fill two open positions
The Oregon Heritage Commission will meet July 27 in downtown St. Helens for tours and July 28 at the Rainier Historical Museum and online for the Business Meeting.
The agenda<https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/OH/Pages/Commissions.aspx#OHC> for the business meeting includes:

  *   A presentation by a member of the Made by Us Youth250 bureau on initiatives related to connecting Gen Z and history organizations and historic sites for the 250th commemoration of the country in 2026
  *   Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon
  *   Recommendations for projects funded by the Oregon Heritage Commission’s FY26 Cultural Trust Partner grant
  *   Annual overview of grant projects funded by Oregon Heritage grant programs
  *   Update on the 2026 Oregon Heritage Plan process
This meeting is open to the public and there is an opportunity at the beginning of the meeting for public comment. Public comment can be made in person, online, or written submission. For online attendance, registration is required. To view the full agenda, register for the virtual meeting, or learn more about public comment options, visit here<https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/OH/Pages/Commissions.aspx#OHC>.
Special accommodations for the meeting - including translation services - may be made by calling (503) 986‐0690 or Kimberly.Spivey at oprd.oregon.gov<mailto:Kimberly.Spivey at oprd.oregon.gov> at least 72 hours prior to the start of the meeting.
The Heritage Commission’s nine Governor appointed members represent a diversity of cultural, geographic, and institutional interests. The Commission’s nine advisory members include representatives from the Oregon State Library, Oregon State Archives, State Historical Records Advisory Board, Higher Education Coordinating Committee, Travel Oregon, Oregon Historical Society, Department of Education, State Historic Preservation Office, and the Department of Land Conservation and Development.
The Commission is the primary agency for coordination of heritage activities in the state. This includes carrying out the Oregon Heritage Plan<https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/OH/Documents/2020_Oregon_Heritage_Plan.pdf>, increasing efficiency and avoiding duplication among interest groups, developing plans for coordination among agencies and organizations, encouraging tourism related to heritage resources, and coordinating statewide anniversary commemorations.
There are currently two open Governor appointed positions, one representing the Portland region and one representing the Southern Oregon region.
More information about the Oregon Heritage Commission is available online at www.oregonheritage.org<http://www.oregonheritage.org/> and from Commission Coordinator Katie Henry at 503-877-8834 or katie.henry at oprd.oregon.gov<mailto:katie.henry at oprd.oregon.gov>.
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Oregon Heritage invites you to share information about Oregon Women’s Labor History locations
Oregon Heritage continues to develop the Oregon Women’s History Project, an endeavor to recognize the significant history of women in Oregon through a Multiple Property Submission (MPS). The MPS would include a Multiple Property Documentation Form (MPDF) and an individual property nomination to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). An MPDF is a cover document that provides a historic context, identifies associated properties, and describes registration requirements for NRHP listing. This document does not list resources on its own, but rather it provides a context with background information on a specific topic under which individual properties or groups of properties, called districts, can be nominated to the NRHP.
Four phases comprise the Oregon Women’s History Project. Phase One involved developing a methodology to approach the project. Phase Two resulted in a draft historic context, Oregon Women’s Labor History: A Historic Context Statement, 1903-1990<https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/OH/Documents/OR_WomensLaborHistory.pdf>. Oregon Heritage has engaged Stantec Consulting Services Inc. (Stantec) to document historic-age properties across the state that are associated with women’s labor history. Surveyed properties will be evaluated for inclusion in the NRHP.
Oregon Heritage invites you to participate in this project by sharing your knowledge of women’s labor history in Oregon and of the people and sites associated with this important topic. We welcome your identification of extant sites associated with women’s history, stories, historic photographs, contacts, and any other information you are willing to share. The input and guidance of stakeholders will ensure that this project captures the significance of women’s labor history. Send information and questions to Kuri Gill at kuri.gill at oprd.oregon.gov<mailto:kuri.gill at oprd.oregon.gov>.
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Marion Dean Ross/Pacific Northwest Chapter of the Society of Architectural Historians "mini" conference - proposal due soon
The Marion Dean Ross/Pacific Northwest Chapter of the Society of Architectural Historians will be holding their "mini" conference October 10-12, 2025 in Tacoma, Washington with the theme: "Resist, Reclaim, Restore: Preserving an Inclusive Heritage."
Session proposals due in two weeks - Submit a traditional paper or panel session, or mix things up with a Pecha Kucha or another creative format. Proposals should explore the study, interpretation, and protection of historically significant places across Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and British Columbia, with special interest in proposals that resonate with our theme.
Whether you’re a seasoned scholar, a graduate student, or a practitioner with a story to tell, it is encouraged that you share your ideas and help us shape a conference that reflects the full range and richness of our region’s built environment.
Submit your proposals by 11:59pm, Friday, August 1, 2025!
Submit here.<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSePwobyC9KaBM610A0EnG_U24OBAKfnU19gEQsdSOMODYm-4A/viewform>
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Collection conservation grant resources
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has announced a new grant opportunity tied to the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence: Rediscovering our Revolutionary Tradition.  Individual organizations with collections and consortiums can apply for projects that preserve and improve access to primary source materials that relate to the history of American independence, the expansion of the nation, and/or the history of American government (federal, state, or local). The types of materials can be archival or artistic works. Eligible project activities include conservation treatment, rehousing, imaging, cataloging, and transcription. Individual institutions can apply for up to $350,000 over two years, and consortiums can apply for up to $750,000 over three years. If you would like to discuss a project idea for this new grant opportunity, please contact Daphne Mayer, Director of Business Development, at dmayer at ccaha.org<mailto:dmayer at ccaha.org>. Deadline: September 4 (a second cycle will be due Jan. 15, 2026) Learn more.<https://ys9myawab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001DOWIkOCMvAQ7tZjpCCXaOefpj2S4P_9RqBg3F_nHSt7cFwjNzLYnS4fWw96VC1WmwV6xlDyMsDV54fISQ-1O3MGImMFWMTQ0__1-B-dCsy93vfbREiGm8awhx5oruuL4UKZi_5cA08ysbNwjonEKx5kr9QRWh9pErWQqqBfs9zfDJlEeggzLYkoVIvYyO5f2SP90REDTe_LXmgW1DVNl3g==&c=lcZ4f9GH-SgVvhrziGOFwi6m4hnfDrZ66z3lINUVmTDbbas7m9k9Pw==&ch=DycsCWi97BJKiOwzxcL6l5X7oVydAeoOEK9Dl-xR_xP137PqxBZAdw==>
Bank of America has just opened its online portal for applications to its Art Conservation Project  grant program. Nonprofit museums and cultural institutions can apply to conserve works of art that are either culturally significant to their country/region or important to the history of art.  Eligible objects (or collections of objects) include paintings, works on paper, photographs, books and manuscripts, decorative or applied art, etc. The pieces must be on view to the public (or will be following conservation). There are no minimum or maximum request amounts, but the project must be completed within a year. Deadline: September 12 Learn more.<https://ys9myawab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001DOWIkOCMvAQ7tZjpCCXaOefpj2S4P_9RqBg3F_nHSt7cFwjNzLYnS44-PepCi9ZuDz3AsXwtY__3LAv6IKgDM6smJ6oF2SyPQxNaKJFugHK-zEqrigS8zKbGVwla7NoKZlytILqKrcF2dxW_VpwACFub9jV_Wq1daJYSp6jApJz5fcFlwRZ7DYCq--C7kubE0yPxl_Q4s44sa_pyVXIucdzJjfkBWyK9XO7tVmIxXOY=&c=lcZ4f9GH-SgVvhrziGOFwi6m4hnfDrZ66z3lINUVmTDbbas7m9k9Pw==&ch=DycsCWi97BJKiOwzxcL6l5X7oVydAeoOEK9Dl-xR_xP137PqxBZAdw==>
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2025 Pacific Northwest Preservation Field School - applications open
30th Annual Pacific Northwest Preservation Field School (PNWFS) will take place this September at Elk Rock Garden<https://elkrockgarden.org/>, a stunning 10-acre historic estate along the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon. The Elk Rock Foundation operates the estate and maintains the grounds for public visitation.
Over the course of three one-week sessions, participants will engage directly in hands-on preservation projects across the garden’s architectural and landscape features. Proposed project work includes:

  *   Leaded-glass and wood window restoration
  *   Dry-stacked stone wall and stair repair
  *   Tree limb bridge railing reconstruction
  *   Landscape maintenance rooted in cultural landscape theory
Each session also features specialized workshops and discussions covering documentation and analysis; condition assessment; preservation philosophy; and National Register eligibility. Participants will live, work, and learn onsite. Weekly schedules include hands-on work, educational discussions, evening lectures with preservation professionals, and guided field trips to historic Portland neighborhoods and landmarks.
PNWFS is open to all! Whether you're a student, preservation professional, or passionate learner - this is a unique chance to gain real-world experience while contributing to the legacy of a Pacific Northwest historic resource.
Apply now or learn more about each session at: archenvironment.uoregon.edu/2025-pacific-northwest-preservation-field-school<https://archenvironment.uoregon.edu/2025-pacific-northwest-preservation-field-school>
Follow on Instagram: @pnwfs
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Article on Recruiting New Museum Board Members
This article offers four tips to intentionally recruit new members for the board. These tips will help match the board’s skills and perspectives with the museum’s goals. Read more.<https://u83566.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.U4Bpc-2Fu-2FDolsDfBYK06R45Gk6aYT2EcUt4qrcuO60AZsWAnWXGqc9tHI5lIl1lavRsjx7yRtcxYwoiOswKyNI6txCTHCNygmlFE63qPkOyGy7oXE1-2FvTjr3rwpjEY4VSWZai_dQQJK-2Bh2VwYZPbMqkB87WMSaHSrB2Cpyat6DlFx8xgmqbu3irjtssH68i2Qnpd-2Ftibq35njLfGe1RP0eD19dmbA9cViCftexRTalgOeEnBB2M8EWTMPOKM4mmiUdrj7gzn7EERipiYyurokROjDYLrUR2v7C4WjwkIg6lCr-2FX7c1hWdG-2BLy9fosKOKhmiJKRq8PmmTgKEvcxxhcZLaVdLFrIiCqGMQ7ClnM74VdmnnvUysQ846y2hwYomvlM3ICO0H640H4OUybcF8G2ucuugIriOuHQ0QkrjenKwynFtqU4E1PxegUwEec-2BM3IYAemnzdDa6x-2B5-2F-2F3E7cau8TxFKthKSSsv7PAoddmRHGJWxp2dSYxX0SfRkMyLcbtDYWkAoWlm1AGhBxXwHojOzJ19Ts8laKo6k-2BwE0FKvBaXACvXB-2BLuBQG0vwVSIr7tEUDY2FmfGbX2vw48JZvJ1cZ28rVK95-2BkwOU28TjrwB2E6QqxCIHkElguQsuHwlSpNx-2Bg9rsjXg5zGVYl1i7buyTRjP-2BU4L85bJjcrv3XsUVkSHlUQGjfuwDqnWzl3jTC-2FSk3CQfnO9WzT7ggbI1m1fPQODw16C6sZEs4KGCX2ihY4LUKP1FtEGBn6WE1Ee9AyNuWs1xkRk6btwTv7L40V9xJzEZmI0LAx7rTy3oP80cbnX2o-3D>
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Oregon Heritage News is a service of Oregon Heritage, a division of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department that includes the State Historic Preservation Office. Learn more about our programs at www.oregonheritage.org<http://www.oregonheritage.org/>. The news editor can be contacted at heritage.info at oprd.oregon.gov<mailto:heritage.info at oprd.oregon.gov>.

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