Historic Preservation

Vermonters and visitors alike care about our historic resources. Volunteers, craftspeople, businesses, organizations, and agencies work to identify, restore, preserve, and utilize these resources. All are essential partners in Vermont’s preservation movement.

The State Archaeology program within Vermont Division for Historic Preservation encourages recognition and preservation of prehistoric, historic, and cultural sites that are an important link with our shared past. Archaeological sites contain the irreplaceable evidence to reconstruct the past.

Rehabilitating a historic building may seem daunting at first, but here are some resources to guide you.

National Park Service Preservation Briefs - Guidance on a variety of historic preservation issues.

National Park Service Preservation Tech Notes - Detailed technical information on restoring historic features.

Rules of the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation:  The Vermont Division for Historic Preservation (VDHP) is authorized by 22 V.S.A. § 723(10) to adopt rules and carry out the purposes of the Vermont Historic Preservation Act.

Preservation Laws and Regulations   

Do you have a project that needs a State or Federal review? If you are receiving federal or state funds, permits or licenses, your project WILL need to be reviewed by our staff at the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation (VDHP).

Vermont established its Certified Local Government (CLG) program in 1985 to better help local governments integrate historic preservation concerns with planning and decision making processes. Because preservation most often happens at the local level, joining the CLG program is an important and effective way to preserve Vermont's historic places.

Established in 1986, the State-funded Historic Preservation Grant Program helps municipalities and non-profit organizations rehabilitate the historic buildings that are a vital part of Vermont’s downtowns, villages, and rural communities, as well as its iconic landscape. 

Established in 1992, the State-funded Barn Preservation Grant program helps individuals, municipalities, and non-profit organizations to rehabilitate the historic agricultural buildings that are a symbol of Vermont’s rural landscape. This is the oldest state-funded agricultural-based grant program in the United States.

Historic Preservation Grants 

If your municipality or non-profit organization owns a historic building, you may be eligible to apply for a Historic Preservation Grant to assist with the cost of repairing and maintaining the structure.

Barn Preservation Grants 

If you own a historic agricultural building, you may be eligible to apply for a Barn Grant to assist with the cost of repairing and maintaining the structure.

VAHC, with the primary center located in Barre, serves as the central warehouse for artifacts and archives of Vermont’s past. The center is open to the public to explore our 13,000 years of history through exhibits, workshops, and lectures.