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Preservation Month Photo Contest
As part of Historic Preservation Month 2025, the annual DHPA Photo Contest is open for submissions. The digital photo contest must be of resources found in Indiana. Watermarks and/or signatures are not permitted on entries. Photographs can be submitted in the following categories: Color, Black & White, Altered, Kids (under 18), and photos pertaining to the Preservation Month theme in 2025.
This year’s Historic Preservation Month theme is the “Faces of Architecture.” We welcome submissions of building details such as gargoyles, grotesques, or statues that are found on historic buildings.
Use the registration form for each picture submitted (up to three per photographer) and send entries to DHPAConnect@dnr.IN.gov by Friday, April 4.
Historic Preservation Fund Grant Criteria Available for Public Comment
Every year, the DNR Division of Historic Preservation & Archaeology (DHPA) revises the priorities used to evaluate grant applications to the federally funded Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) program. Indiana’s priorities are established within the parameters of the National Park Service’s Historic Preservation Fund Grants Manual and represent the types of projects the DHPA view as important to its mission to identify, document, investigate, preserve, and interpret cultural resources.
The HPF Program Guidelines and the evaluation criteria for Administrative, Architectural & Historical, Archaeology, Acquisition & Development are available for public review and comment. Please provide any comments to the DHPA Grants Staff by Monday, April 7. All public comments must be received in writing. Send comments by e-mail to skennedy@dnr.IN.gov or by mail to DHPA Grants Staff, 402 W. Washington St., Room W274, Indianapolis, IN 46204. All public comments received will be presented to the State Historic Preservation Review Board at its meeting on April 16, 2025.
To review the HPF grant guidelines and evaluation criteria for FY2026, visit dnr.IN.gov/historic-preservation/financial-assistance/grants.
Most evaluation criteria have been revised into a question format to clarify for applicants that each one requires a written response unless noted. Relevant dates/years have been revised as applicable. Otherwise, the priorities have not been substantively changed from FY2025. Please note that the evaluation criteria are only one part of an HPF grant application, and the DHPA is not accepting proposals at this time.
Lighting It Up
Good lighting is something that we now take for granted, with nearly every home, business, school, and factory having cheap, reliable, and abundant artificial lighting at the ready.
HPF is moving to eCivis Grant Management System
In 2023, the State of Indiana adopted a new grants management system called eCivis. Applicants for state and federal grants from DNR will access grant solicitations via the eCivis Grants Portal. Applications will be submitted electronically through the portal and subrecipients will receive their award notices via eCivis. Following notice of their award, subrecipients will use eCivis to manage their grants, including submitting activity reports, requesting reimbursements, and conducting grant close-out activities. For training materials, technical support, and other information about eCivis, please visit the Indiana State Budget Agency website.
The Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) grant applications will be moving to eCivis for FY2026 as part of implementing this statewide grant management program. It is important to note that the substance of the HPF applications is not changing, but that the process for completing the application components and submitting them will be different. The DHPA grants team is attending training on program management and building HPF in eCivis. The DHPA is also working with SBA on plans to communicate updated information and to provide training and support to HPF applicants. Please check back regularly to the DHPA website, Facebook page, and Preservation at the Crossroads e-newsletter for information on using eCivis to apply for an HPF grant and post-award project monitoring and management.
Preserving Historic Places
Preserving Historic Places, Indiana’s statewide historic preservation conference, changes locations every year in order to showcase Indiana’s historic communities. Our upcoming conference, which will be Sept. 30 – Oct. 3, celebrates Fort Wayne, Indiana’s second largest city. Discover the legacies of Native Americans, fur traders, ethnic groups, industrial pioneers, and a vibrant post-industrial revival. During the conference, we’ll explore the Electric Works, a visionary adaptive reuse of a former industrial campus transformed into a dynamic mixed-use facility. We’ll also visit the iconic National Historic Landmark Allen County Courthouse and experience the grandeur of the Embassy Theatre.
Note: Conference organizers offer sincere apologies to our speakers and attendees for the overlap of Preserving Historic Place 2025 with Yom Kippur. This significant scheduling oversight, though unintentional, is one we recognize as counterproductive to hosting an inclusive event. Unfortunately, the 2025 dates, which were chosen several months ago based on facility availability, could no longer be changed when the oversight was brought to our attention.
Columbus Pump House
Adaptive reuse continues to be a successful way to preserve historic buildings.
Former historic structures reviewer Miriam Burkett examined the Columbus Pump House in Bartholomew County as a success story of adaptive reuse.
A Statewide Celebration of Archaeology Three Decades and Counting
In 1996, Indiana celebrated the first Indiana Archaeology Week to share information about archaeology, and the laws which protect them. In 2002, the celebration expanded to Indiana Archaeology Month and each year, many events occur including open houses, excavations, presentations, training, and artifact identifications throughout the state.
Read more about this annual celebration to highlight and recognize archaeology in the state.
Preservation Month Teddy Bear Camp
Teddy Bear Camp is back for the fifth year! The camp is available to children age 5-12 in Boone, Hamilton, Madison, Hancock, Shelby, Johnson, Morgan, Hendricks, or Marion counties. Stuffed animals can be dropped off at one of our partner locations and DHPA staff will take the stuffies to various locations in central Indiana to learn about Indiana history, architecture, archaeology, and historic preservation.
Be sure to follow our Facebook page to get updates about the stuffies’ adventures.
Dates, locations, and other details are being finalized and will be shared on Facebook and our website at on.IN.gov/teddy-bear-camp.
Recent Listings on the National Register
In November 2024, Indiana added seven listings to the National Register of Historic Places. These listings—a house, a lake cottage, a theater, college campuses, and commercial and residential historic districts—have added approximately 503 historic resources to the National and State Registers. Read about the new listings.
For information on Indiana properties listed in the National Register of Historic Places and the Indiana Register of Historic Sites and Structures, go to on.IN.gov/SHAARD.
Listening to and Reading about History, Archaeology, and Historic Preservation
The DHPA staff loves podcasts, social media, and resources related to history, archaeology, and historic preservation. So, we thought we’d share with you our favorite finds. Each newsletter issue, we’ll highlight something we’ve found or used.
The Canal Society of Indiana has created a website Canal Society – Interpretation ~ Preservation ~ Restoration with information about state and local history connected to the canal era. Free classroom materials, lesson plans, interactive maps, biographies, and audio visuals are available. Tours and symposiums are offered annually. The Canal Society of Indiana also offers free public programing aimed at upper elementary school learners who are interested in the canals of Indiana. Questions may be directed to 765-285-8720 or RVMorris@BSU.edu.
Some Instagram accounts to recognize in light of the recent wildfires in southern California:
- LA Conservancy @laconservancy
- Eames Foundation Museum @eameshouse
- California State Parks @castateparks
What archaeology, architecture, or preservation pages do you follow? We want to know at DHPAConnect@dnr.IN.gov.
Follow DHPA on Facebook
The Division of Historic Preservation & Archaeology is on Facebook. Follow us at www.facebook.com/INdhpa to find out about upcoming events, participate in trivia, find out about things to see and do throughout the state, and learn interesting facts about preservation and archaeology in Indiana. If you have suggestions for topics or questions for future discussions let us know at DHPAConnect@dnr.IN.gov.
Tell us what you think
We are always interested in your ideas. If there is a topic you would like to see in an upcoming issue of Preservation at the Crossroads, email us at DHPAConnect@dnr.IN.gov.