National Park Service resource sites

The United States National Park Service is a vital source of information related to appropriate historic preservation techniques.  The websites made available from the national trust cover everything from residential to commercial preservation.

Secretary of the Interior's guidelines for rehabilitation
The definitive authority on historic rehabs, restorations, or reconstructions.

National Park Service Preservation Briefs
Covering just about every topic imaginable when it comes to historic structures.

Yes's and No's of Historic Preservation
Quick, at-a-glance guides for proper and improper techniques for maintaining and renovating historic structures.

"All Wet" -- help with moisture management
One of the greatest threats to your historic building is... water!  Unwanted moisture problems can be controlled and prevented using techniques discussed on this site.

Electronic Rehab
This introductory program should be useful for anyone interested in learning more about the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation, but was designed especially for historic building owners; new members of design review and historic preservation commissions; architects, contractors, and developers; maintenance personnel and others involved in the care of historic buildings; and students in historic preservation courses

How to "read" a historic building
This web class was specially designed to help owners, architects, developers, maintenance personnel, and members of historic preservation commissions identify those tangible elements or features that give historic buildings their unique visual character.



Other resource sites

National Trust for Historic Preservation
For more than 50 years, the National Trust has been helping people protect the irreplaceable. A private nonprofit organization with more than a quarter million members, the National Trust is the leader of the vigorous preservation movement that is saving the best of our past for the future.

National Main Street Center
The nationwide Main Street  program, a division of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, encourages a four-point approach (organization, design, promotion and economic restructuring)  to revitalizing historic downtowns and urban areas.  Oklahoma's Main Street Program is a division of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce.  Oklahoma City has been home to five urban Main Street Programs, which in cooperation with the City of Oklahoma City have generated millions of dollars in reinvestment to the community.

Loggia.com -- the art of architecture
Loggia is dedicated to the study of the arts and humanities. The mission is to provide an informative and engaging experience related to the study of art and art history, architecture and design.

Sprawlwatch Clearinghouse
The Sprawl Watch Clearinghouse mission is to make the tools, techniques, and strategies developed to manage growth, accessible to citizens, grassroots organizations, environmentalists, public officials, planners, architects, the media and business leaders.  The clearinghouse identifies, collects, compiles, and disseminates information on the best land use practices.


Local sites

Oklahoma City Planning Department HP page
Details 2003 change to local HP guidelines and links to Oklahoma City HP questions page and to the main planning department section of the OKC government website.


Commercial and trade sites

Restoration Trades
A group of dedicated building artisans and professionals publishing information about significant specialty skills resources and archiving it on the web, available for the use of the building and restoration industry.

Traditional Building
A place to find sources for such things as: Architectural Antiques & Salvage, Tin Ceilings, Period-Style Lighting, Columns & Capitals, Metal Roofing, Slate & Tile Woods, Antique Boards, Historic and Replacement Windows, Victorian and Arts & Crafts Tile, Terrazzo Floors, Ornamental Metal Castings, Fences & Gates, Registers & Grilles, Architectural Sheetmetal, Stained Glass, Mosaics, Period Plumbing, Masonry Restoration Materials, Landscape and Streetscape Fixtures, Architectural Millwork, Murals & Decorating Painting, Plaster Moldings . . . and much more.

Preservation Directory
Preservation Directory is a new site that strives to provide information and examples of good preservation from all over the country.  A vast resource with links to commercial and noncommercial preservation-related organizations, goods and services.

This Old House Online
A companion to the popular television show, this website offers a comprehensive online resource and guide for improving the house. With hundreds of feature articles from kitchen to bath to yard and garden, step-by-step photos and illustrations in hundreds of how-to articles, you'll find reliable answers to most of your questions quickly.

Old House Journal
Online counterpart to Old House Journal Magazine, including how-to advice and lists of resources.

The Interactive Old House Network
The Old House Interactive Network is dedicated to the preservation and enjoyment of old houses, historic buildings and the national heritage that these treasures represent.

The Hardwood Information Center
A service of the Hardwood Manufacturers Association. Providing facts, tips and useful advice about U.S. hardwoods and hardwood products.


Others of interest

Cinema treasures
Devoted to movie theater preservation and awareness. Utilizing the community-building capabilities of the Internet, Cinema Treasures unites movie theater owners and enthusiasts in a common cause—to save the last remaining movie palaces across the country.