ATTENTION: 

Our office is reorienting and revising our review and compliance process.  Most notably, we will be separating the review processes for federal projects that require our review under the National Historic Preservation Act and for state projects that require our review under the Coastal Zone Management Act.

Please note the following changes: 

• Beginning May 1, 2008, we will no longer provide comments on projects until a federal or state agency is clearly identified. 
• Beginning May 1, 2008, any discussions with our office prior to agency involvement will be considered preliminary and informational and will not progress beyond determinations of eligibility for historic properties. 
• Beginning May 1, 2008, completed project review forms must be submitted for every project.

Questions?  Please contact our staff.

Although the legal power to protect historic buildings, structures, sites, and districts rests primarily with local governments, federal and state laws provide some protection for historic properties affected by projects that involve federal or certain state funds, permits, or licenses. Under these federal and state laws, the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) helps federal and state agencies and applicants identify historic properties listed in or eligible for the National Register, evaluate the impacts of proposed projects on them, and avoid or minimize negative impacts.

Archaeological investigations conducted at the Beaufort Naval Hospital revealed many artifacts associated with Camp Saxton, where one of the first African American units in the U.S. Army trained during the Civil War.