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    Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office

    Baseline Survey Effort, 2020-2024

    PA SHPO began Pennsylvania Baseline Survey in 2020 to survey historic places in Pennsylvania that are underrepresented in the Pennsylvania Historic Places Inventory.

    Map showing survey location by year. The specific number and order of counties to be surveyed may be subject to change. Map showing survey location by year. The specific number and order of counties to be surveyed may be subject to change.

    Baseline Survey Effort, 2020-2024

    The Pennsylvania Baseline Survey is an effort to survey historic places in Pennsylvania that PA SHPO began in 2020. The Pennsylvania Baseline Survey is the largest survey effort undertaken by the PA SHPO in recent years. Over 20,350 places across 55 counties have been added to PA-SHARE as a result of the ongoing efforts of the Pennsylvania Baseline Survey.

    Read PA SHPO's Plan for Baseline Survey in Pennsylvania, 2020-2024.

    What is baseline survey?

    Survey is the process of identifying and gathering data on a community's historic resources. It includes field survey, the physical search for and recording of historic resources on the ground, and it also includes public engagement, planning and background research before field survey begins.

    This baseline survey will collect a minimum amount of locational and physical data and photographs about historic properties - what is known as the minimum record.  This effort is focused on adding new places to the PA Historic Places Inventory rather than updating existing information. The data will be integrated into the PA Historic Places Inventory and accessible through PA-SHARE.

    There are several benefits of collecting data on historic resources in Pennsylvania. Historic places define the character, continuity, and a sense of uniqueness to a community. A locally important historic resource might never appear on a list of nationally significant places but undertaking this type of survey acknowledges that these resources have value to Pennsylvania's communities and future generations. Baseline survey data can inform inventories of National Register historic districts, which can lead to the use of historic preservation tax credits and grants to stimulate rehabilitation of historic buildings. Data from this baseline survey effort can also be used to assist municipalities and organizations in their efforts to interpret and celebrate an area's history.

    Survey Scope

    The Baseline Survey Project resulted in the survey of over 20,350 historic places across 55 counties.

    Survey Priorities

    PA SHPO has identified several survey priorities for this baseline survey effort. Priority resources for survey are those that reflect themes underrepresented in the PA Historic Places Inventory and those that are identified by local stakeholders.

    These priorities are:

    • African American churches and cemeteries
    • Places associated with racial and ethnic communities
    • Places of local significance/importance as identified by local stakeholders
    • Surficial archaeological evidence

    Baseline survey efforts will also collect information about these types of places:

    • Recreational properties
    • Urban redevelopment projects
    • Fraternal buildings
    • Representative mid-20th century resources
    • Industrial resources
    • Representative commercial and residential properties of local vernacular 

     You can learn more about the survey priorities and survey methodology in the Plan for Baseline Survey in Pennsylvania, 2020-2024.

    Stakeholder Engagement

    Engagement with local stakeholders is an important component of this survey effort. Not only will it provide an opportunity to build relationships and educate a broader audience on the importance of survey but will also help PA SHPO document the places and spaces Pennsylvanians value in their communities.

    Local stakeholders and others are welcome to tell us about places in their communities using this link.  

    Related Materials

    Plan for Baseline Survey in Pennsylvania: 2020-2024

    State Historic Preservation Office Adds 7,500 Properties to Historic Places Inventory (March 2022 Press Release)

    Learning Pennsylvania's Story Through Historic Places Baseline Survey StoryMap (Released December 2024)