Local Preservation: Overview

Newport Historic District brochure: Newport is one of 15 communities with local historic district zoning

Supported by a grant from Preserve America, the RIHPHC has launched a new initiative called Preservation is Local (PIL) to promote community preservation activities in Rhode Island. The program provides regional summits, grants to municipalities, and increased technical support for local preservation priorities. PIL draws on the expertise of Grow Smart Rhode Island, RI Historical Society, Preserve Rhode Island, RI Statewide Planning, RI-DEM, and John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor. For more information, visit the PIL page.

Community preservation efforts vary from grass-roots coalitions to save a historic property to the creation of institutional and governmental bodies. These organizations include local museums, historical and preservation societies, neighborhood associations, and local historic district commissions that serve cities and towns. While all of these groups may can seek financial and technical assistance from the Rhode Island Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission, they operate without RIHPHC involvement.

Museums, historical and preservation societies, neighborhood associations, and local historic district commissions differ significantly in their roles in preservation. Museums like Slater Mill are generally centered around a building or group of buildings, or a specific collection of artifacts. Historical societies like the Hopkinton Historical Association are primarily concerned with keeping records of the history of an area through archives of photographs, papers, and artifacts.

Preservation societies like the Providence Preservation Society often focus on advocacy for and education about historic buildings. Neighborhood associations like the West Broadway Neighborhood Association work to improve the quality of life in their areas--often using preservation strategies. For lists of local organizations, see Links.

Fifteen towns and cities in Rhode Island appoint local historic district commissions to oversee changes in sensitive historic areas. For more information, email Sarah Zurier or call her at (401) 222-4142.