The purpose of the Division of Historical Resources is to identify, document, protect, preserve, interpret, and promote Florida's historical resources, as well as nurture an understanding of the state's cultural heritage and foster an appreciation of Florida's history and culture.

The division's three program areas provide a number of services to Floridians.

• Director's Office oversees a Historic Preservation Grants program to help preserve and maintain Florida's historic buildings and archaeological sites.It also coordinates outreach programs such as the State Historical Markers program and the Florida Folklife program, which identifies and promotes the state's traditional culture. Additionally, the division director serves as the State Historic Preservation Officer, acting as a liaison with the National Park Service's national historic preservation program.
• Bureau of Archaeological Research carries out archaeological surveys and excavations throughout the state, mostly on state-owned lands. These activities include underwater excavations such as shipwreck sites.
• Bureau of Historic Preservation conducts historic preservation programs aimed at identifying, evaluating, and preserving the historic and cultural resources of the state. The bureau oversees the National Register of Historic Places and maintain the state's historic buildings and archaeological sites.

For example, the division administers the Mission San Luis de Apalachee historic site and The Grove Museum. Citizen advisory boards that assist the division in providing these services include the Florida Historical Commission, the Florida National Register Review Board, the State Historical Marker Council, and the Great Floridians Ad Hoc Selection Committee. The division is also assisted by one citizen support organization: Friends of Florida History.

Through Fiscal Year 2019-20, the department reported a total of 220,587 historical and archeological sites recorded in the state's Master Site File, an increase of 4,489 from the prior year.

The division is funded through General Revenue and two trust funds-the Land Acquisition Trust Fund and the Federal Grants Trust Fund.

Florida's Main Street Program. The Division of Cultural Affairs recognizes four new participating communities in the Main Streets Program. The new additions are the Allapattah Main Street of Miami, Main Street Fort Meade, Glenwood Main Street of Panama City, and Millville Main Street of Panama City. The Florida Main Street program is administered by the Division of Historical Resources and oversees 49 communities throughout the state. It implements the National Main Street Center's Four-Point Approach, encouraging economic development within the context of historic preservation through the revitalization of Florida's downtowns.

Museum of Florida History. The 2021 Legislature enacted Ch. 2021-71, Laws of Florida, which designates the Museum of Florida History as the official state history museum. The law also transfers the Museum of Florida History and its responsibilities from the Division of Cultural Affairs to the Division of Historical Resources.

Properties in Museums and Inventory Responsibilities. The 2021 Florida Legislature enacted Ch. 2021-71, Laws of Florida, which revises responsibilities of the Division of Historical Resources relating to objects of historical or archaeological value as well as revising provisions relating to property on loan to museums and property abandoned at museums.

 

Other Reports
Department of State - Division of Corporations, Museum of Florida History, and Selected Administrative Activities - Operational Audit, Auditor General Report No. 2017-195, March 2017

Websites of Interest
Division of Historical Resources Publications
National Historic Preservation Program
Performance Information
Performance measures and standards for the department may be found in its Long Range Program Plan.

Chapters 163 (Local Government Comprehensive Planning and Community Planning Act), 187 (State Comprehensive Plan), and 267 (Florida Historical Resources Act), and s. 872.05 (Unmarked Human Burials), Florida Statutes.

Timothy Parsons, State Historic Preservation Officer and Director, Division of Historical Resources, 850-245-6300, email:  timothy.parsons@DOS.MyFlorida.com

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