*Photo 1: Former Historic Preservation Commission meeting at the Library in October, 2025.
*Photo 2: Members of the Historic Preservation Commission, June 5, 2026.
Historic Preservation
While state and federal historic preservation programs provide important tools and protections, many of the most effective preservation efforts begin at the local level. Historic preservation preserves links to a community's past, highlights its special character, creates economic benefits, and establishes sustainable development practices. Kodiak’s built environment and cultural landscape are deeply tied to local stories, traditions, and priorities—many of which are not formally recognized in national inventories. A local preservation program allows the City and its residents to identify what is important to them, and to protect it on their own terms.
About
In Kodiak, the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) is a volunteer citizen advisory commission that makes recommendations to City Council, the Mayor, and City staff on the preservation of the City's historic resources. The HPC is also central partner in preserving the City’s historic and cultural resources as a designated Certified Local Government (CLG).
As a CLG, Kodiak is part of a nationwide program administered by the National Park Service (NPS) and coordinated at the state level by the Alaska Office of History and Archaeology (OHA). This designation gives the City—and by extension, the HPC—an official role in federal and state preservation processes, access to funding, and the ability to influence how preservation is implemented locally.
Core Responsibilities of the HPC are:
- Advising the City on Historic Preservation Matters
- Maintaining a Survey and Inventory of Historic Resources
- Facilitating Local Designation and Preservation
- Supporting Nominations to the National Register of Historic Places
- Participating in Section 106 and Alaska Historic Preservation Act Reviews
- Applying for CLG Grants