About DHR
What is DHR?
DHR has engaged over 450 students in 3 highway marker contests
DHR has registered more than 3,317 individual resources and 613 historic districts
DHR has erected 2,532 highway markers in every county and city across Virginia
DHR has secured permanent legal protection for over 700 historic places - including 15,000 acres of battlefield lands
DHR has stimulated more than $4.2 billion dollars in private investments related to historic tax credit incentives, revitalizing communities of all sizes throughout Virginia
How to Get Involved
Getting involved with historic preservation in Virginia can be a rewarding and fulfilling experience, and DHR provides a range of opportunities for collaboration and involvement. Individuals, organizations, and local governments can work with DHR to research, identify, preserve, and protect historic resources in their communities. The agency also manages a range of programs and initiatives designed to promote and protect Virginia’s unique cultural heritage.
Our Team
The Virginia Department of Historic Resources staff consists of knowledgeable and experienced experts and leaders in the field of historic preservation. They bring a wealth of knowledge and skills to their work, ensuring the protection and preservation of Virginia’s historic and cultural resources. The staff works closely with local governments, organizations, and the public to promote the understanding and appreciation of Virginia’s rich history and cultural heritage.
DHR Guidance and Planning Documents:
One Virginia: DHR’s Strategic Plan for Inclusive Excellence: Governor Northam’s Executive Order One requires that agencies take affirmative measures to enable and encourage the recruitment of a diverse staff. Additionally, as part of the Special 2021 Session of the Virginia General Assembly, Chapter 168 of the Virginia Acts of Assembly mandates that agencies create a complete diversity, equity, and inclusion plan in coordination with the Governor’s Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Developed in accordance with these guiding documents from the Governor and the GA, here is DHR’s “Strategic Plan for Inclusive Excellence.”
As Virginia’s State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), DHR is mandated to periodically develop and publish a Statewide Comprehensive Preservation Plan (under by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended). On November 10, 2021 DHR published Virginia’s Comprehensive Preservation Plan, 2022–2027. The plan is far-reaching and intended both to inspire and to represent the work of the diverse stakeholders who benefit and who shape the future of Virginia’s historic landscape. The goals, objectives, and suggested strategies outlined in the plan target DHR’s next six-year planning cycle, 2021 through 2027.
Work With Us
Join the team or learn more about DHR employment opportunities. By working together, we can ensure that Virginia’s important historic places are protected and preserved for future generations. See our employment and procurement opportunities through the links below.
DHR Boards
The Board of Historic Resources and the State Review Board meet quarterly to consider new nominations of historic sites and properties for listing in the Virginia Landmarks Register (VLR) and the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). The two boards also consider proposed updates and boundary increases to nominations for places previously listed in the VLR and NRHP.
Richmond HQ
The headquarters of the Department of Historic Resources is located at:
- Address
2801 Kensington Avenue
Richmond, VA 23221
- Phone
(804) 482-6446 (receptionist)
- Fax
(804) 367-2391
Regional Offices
We also have three regional preservation offices:
Office Name
Eastern Regional Preservation Office
2801 Kensington Ave, Richmond, VA 23220
Architectural Historian
Joanna McKnight
joanna.mcknight@dhr.virginia.gov
804-482-6093
Archaeologist
Mike Clem
mike.clem@dhr.virginia.gov
804-482-6443
Office Name
Eastern Regional Preservation Office
2801 Kensington Ave, Richmond, VA 23220
Eastern Region Preservation Specialist
Joanna McKnight
joanna.mcknight@dhr.virginia.gov
804-482-6093
Archaeologist
Mike Clem
mike.clem@dhr.virginia.gov
804-482-6443
Office Name
Western Regional Preservation Office
962 Kime Lane, Salem, VA 24153
Architectural Historian
Michael Pulice
michael.pulice@dhr.virginia.gov
540-387-5443
Archaeologist
Tom Klatka
tom.klatka@dhr.virginia.gov
540-387-5396
Office Name
Northern Regional Preservation Office
5357 Main St., Stephens City, VA 22633
Architectural Historian
Aubrey Von Lindern
aubrey.vonlindern@dhr.virginia.gov
540-868-7029
Archaeologist
Bob Jolley
bob.jolley@dhr.virginia.gov
540-722-3442
