Massachusetts Historical Commission

Pursuant to MGLA c 9, ss 26-28, the Massachusetts Historical Commission (MHC) administers historic preservation programs and funds for the purpose of protecting and making available for public appreciation the Commonwealth's historic and archaeological resources.

The commission was established by St 1963, c 697 within the state secretary's office to advise on matters relating to historic assets of the Commonwealth and to assist in compiling and maintaining an inventory of them. Initially the MHC's attention was focused towards historic properties and sites. The enabling act empowered the commission to examine certain sites and structures; make recommendations concerning historical significance; and certify eligible sites as historic landmarks. In addition the legislation enabled cities and towns to establish historical commissions to work in conjunction with the MHC in recommending sites for historic landmark status.

St 1971, c 517, s 2 further authorized the commission to develop historical surveys and plans in accordance with requirements of the federal Historic Preservation Act (16 USC ss 470-470N) and to be the sole agency of the Commonwealth responsible for the act's administration.

In the 1970s the commission's activities came to encompass archaeological as well as historic sites. By St 1971, c 643 the legislature authorized the establishment of the position of State Archaeologist to be appointed within the commission by its chair. The duties and responsibilities of this position were delineated in St 1973, c 1155 to include responsibility for preservation and protection of archeological resources of the Commonwealth by compiling and maintaining an inventory of historic and archeological sites and specimens, conducting surveys and field investigations, recommending sites for status as archeological land marks, and issuing permits for exploration and field investigations. St 1973, c 989 established a Board of Underwater Archaeological Resources (within the Dept. of Public Works; later in the Dept. of Environmental Quality Engineering, now Dept. of Environmental Protection) and designated the MHC as one of the agencies to be represented on it.

St 1982 c 152, s 4 provided for the commission to establish and maintain a State Register of Historic Places, to include all districts, sites, buildings, objects determined eligible for listing or listed in the National Register of Historic Places, all local historic districts established pursuant to MGLA c 40C, all landmarks designated under local ordinance or bylaw, all structures and sites subject to a preservation easement approved or held by the commission pursuant to MGLA c 184, s 32, and all historic or archeological landmarks certified pursuant to MGLA c 9, s 27.

St 1988, c 254, s 7 mandated that prior to undertaking, licensing, or funding public or private construction projects, state agencies must first notify the commission, which is to determine any direct or indirect effects the project might have on any property listed in the State Register of Historic Places and then to discuss ways to eliminate, minimize, or mitigate adverse ones.

NAME AUTHORITY NOTE. Series relating to the agency described above can be found by searching the following access point for the time period stated: 1963-present--Massachusetts Historical Commission.