Alabama Historical Commission: Difference between revisions

{{infobox Organizationorganization

|headquarters = 468 South Perry Street<br/> [[Montgomery, Alabama|Montgomery]], [[Alabama]]<br/> [[United States]]

|website = {{URL|http://ahc.alabama.gov/|ahc.alabama.gov}}

The '''Alabama Historical Commission''' is the [[historic preservation]] agency for the [[U.S. state]] of [[Alabama]]. The agency was created by an act of the state legislature in 1966{{which|date=October 2015}} with a mission of safeguarding Alabama’sAlabama's historic buildings and sites. It consists of twenty members appointed by the [[Governor of Alabama|state governor]] or who serve in an official position. The members represent a broad cross section{{dubious|date=October 2015}} of Alabamians including architects, historians, archaeologists, and representatives of state universities.<ref name="AHC1">{{cite web|title=Commission/Executive Director|work="Alabama Historical Commission"|url=http://www.preserveala.org/commissioner.aspx?sm=a_c|accessdateaccess-date=2008-02-13|archiveurlarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080105173852/http://www.preserveala.org/commissioner.aspx?sm=a_c|archivedatearchive-date=5 January 2008|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The commission is tasked with acquisition and preservation of historic properties and education of the public about historic sites in Alabama.<ref name="REPORT">{{cite web|title=Report on the Alabama Historical Commission |work="Alabama Department of Examiners" |url=http://www.examiners.state.al.us/PDFs/Audit27S-0007.pdf |accessdateaccess-date=2008-03-05 |url-status=dead |archiveurlarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120135723/http://www.examiners.state.al.us/PDFs/Audit27S-0007.pdf |archivedatearchive-date=2008-11-20 }}</ref>

The commission, in cooperation with the Alabama Trust for Historic Preservation, publishes the annual report, ''Places in Peril'', that details Alabama's most [[List of threatened historic sites in the United States|threatened historic resources]].<ref name="AHC2">{{cite web|title=Preservation Report|work="Alabama Historical Commission"|url=http://www.preserveala.org/preservationreport.aspx?sm=h_b|accessdateaccess-date=2008-02-13|archiveurlarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080105174051/http://www.preserveala.org/preservationreport.aspx?sm=h_b|archivedatearchive-date=5 January 2008|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The commission also partners with the Alabama Preservation Alliance and the [[University of West Alabama]] to produce the ''Preservation Scoreboard'', a publication that highlights specific landmark rescues and success stories, opportunities for rescue, and demolitions within the state.<ref name="AHC3">{{cite web|title=The Scoreboard |work="Alabama's Preservation Scoreboard" |url=http://preservationscoreboard.uwa.edu/ |accessdateaccess-date=2008-02-13 |url-status=dead |archiveurlarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070210163623/http://www.preservationscoreboard.uwa.edu/ |archivedatearchive-date=2007-02-10 }}</ref>

The commission's executive director serves as Alabama's [[State Historic Preservation Officer]] and is responsible for nominating historic properties and sites for placement on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] and designation as [[National Historic Landmarks]].<ref name="AHC4">{{cite web|title=National Register of Historic Places|work="Alabama Historical Commission"|url=http://www.preserveala.org/nationalregister.aspx?sm=f_c|accessdateaccess-date=2008-02-13| archiveurlarchive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080105174036/http://www.preserveala.org/nationalregister.aspx?sm=f_c| archivedatearchive-date= 5 January 2008| url-status= livedead}}</ref> The State Historic Preservation Officer carries out functions delegated to the state by the [[United States Department of the Interior]].<ref name="REPORT"/>

The commission also maintains the [[Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage]], which includes properties that the commission deems worthy of preservation. The Alabama Register includes properties ranging from cemeteries to reconstructed properties which would possibly not qualify for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.<ref name="AHC5">{{cite web|title=Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage|work="Alabama Historical Commission"|url=http://www.preserveala.org/alabamaregister.aspx?sm=f_b|accessdateaccess-date=2008-02-13| archiveurlarchive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080105173753/http://www.preserveala.org/alabamaregister.aspx?sm=f_b| archivedatearchive-date= 5 January 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref> The commission owns, operates, or has custody of 26 historic properties located throughout Alabama. These include the [[Alabama State Capitol]], [[Belle Mont (Tuscumbia, Alabama)|Belle Mont]], [[Bottle Creek Indian Mounds]], [[Alabama Confederate Soldiers Home|Confederate Park]], [[Fendall Hall]], [[Fort Mims massacre|Fort Mims]], [[Fort Morgan (Alabama)|Fort Morgan]], [[Fort Toulouse]], [[Greyhound Bus Station (Montgomery, Alabama)|Freedom Rides Museum]], [[Gaineswood]], [[Magnolia Grove (Greensboro, Alabama)|Magnolia Grove]], [[Cahaba, Alabama|Old Cahawba]], and [[Joseph Wheeler Plantation|Pond Spring]].<ref name="REPORT"/>

In 1975, the commission began a historical marker program to inform the public about significant buildings, sites, structures, objects, cemeteries, and districts in the state. Individuals or organizations requesting a marker must have available funds to purchase it since the state provides no funds. In order for an individual or organization to receive a marker from the commission a property must be:<ref name="MARKERS">{{citeCite web |title=Historical Marker Program|work="Alabama Historical Commission"| url=httphttps://preservealaahc.orgalabama.gov/histmarkerprogramhistoricalmarkerprogram.aspx?sm=f_g |accessdateaccess-date=20082023-0301-0509 | archiveurlwebsite= https://webahc.archivealabama.org/web/20080331142316/http://www.preserveala.org/histmarkerprogram.aspx?sm=f_g| archivedate= 31 March 2008gov}}</ref>