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April 2026 Preservation ePost | | What's the Statewide Historic Preservation Plan? | | |
The California Office of Historic Preservation (OHP) is updating the Statewide Historic Preservation Plan (State Plan). The State Plan is required as part of the federal Historic Preservation Fund grant administered by the National Park Service (NPS). The State Plan is a valuable tool for understanding the state’s vision and values to celebrate and commemorate the rich and diverse historical and cultural resources- the history of our great state.
The State Plan addresses the years 2028-2032 and is scheduled for completion in December 2027. The current State Plan is available at: California’s Statewide Historic Preservation Plan 2019-2023 Update.
For more information on the State Plan requirements, see https://www.nps.gov/subjects/historicpreservationfund/statewide-historic-preservation-plans-basic-requirements-overview.htm.
To create the State Plan, OHP is actively engaging the public through listening sessions, surveys, and other input opportunities over the next several months to help ensure the values and opinions of all stakeholders are considered. Key partners include Tribal governments, the preservation community, stakeholder organizations, non-governmental organizations, local governments, and the general public.
The next listening session, held in conjunction with the State Historical Resources Commission workshop and in parallel with the California Preservation Foundation (CPF) Conference, will be on May 6, 2026, at 1:00 pm. Registration for the session is not required and is open to the public. Please visit the OHP State Plan website for more information on upcoming listening sessions and other input opportunities, and other ways to provide comments.
| | Visit the Office of Historic Preservation's website to learn more about our office's role in preserving and celebrating California’s heritage! | | Desert Bel Air Showcase House | | Located in Indian Wells, this house was part of a planned community, Desert Bel Air Estates, developed by Fillmore Crank and Robert Higgins. The house was designed by modern architect William F. Cody in 1961 and completed in 1962. Cody was an influential architect who worked throughout California, Mexico, and Cuba, incorporating regional materials into his modern designs and creating his own version of Desert Midcentury Modernism. Cody designed many other houses within the Desert Bel Air Estates. | | The 2,025-square-foot, three-bedroom, three-bath home showcases key features of midcentury modern design: post-and-beam construction, floor-to-ceiling glass walls, wide roof overhangs, and an open floor plan, seamless indoor and outdoor living. Standout design details include a reflecting pond with a geyser fountain at the entry, a distinctive round kiva fireplace, custom triangular glazing, and American walnut wood paneling throughout the interior. A glass passageway connects the home’s two wings, one for entertaining, one for private living, allowing for panoramic views of Mount Eisenhower and the Santa Rosa Mountains. | | |
Rehabilitation over the decades has been guided closely by Cody’s original plans and professional preservation standards, and it looks much as it did when completed in 1962. Minor updates, such as energy-efficient window glazing, restored kitchen cabinets, and a modern battery backup system, have been carefully integrated without changing the character of the original design. The house was nominated to the National Register of Historic Places and reviewed by the State Historical Resources Commission during the February 6th meeting, and is under review by the Keeper of the National Register.
Photos courtesy of Susan Secoy Jensen
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State Historical Resources Commission
The next State Historical Resources Commission workshop will be held on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at 1:00 PM at the Riverside Convention Center, 3637 5th Street, Room MR3, Riverside, CA.
The State Historical Resources Commission (SHRC) will meet on Thursday, May 7, 2026, at the Riverside Convention Center, 3637 5th Street, Room MR6, Riverside, CA, at 1 pm. The SHRC meets quarterly each year. Commission meetings are open to the public and live-streamed through the Cal-Span network. Meeting and workshop dates, times, and agendas are posted on the SHRC Meeting Schedule and Notices page of the OHP website.
For upcoming nominations, visit the Pending Nominations page. Nominations already heard by the Commission are listed on the Actions Taken page, and video recordings of SHRC meetings are posted to Meeting Recordings & Summaries.
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News, Education, Grant Opportunities,
and More
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California Strategic Growth Council
The California Strategic Growth Council released new Tribal Technical Assistance Guidance to its Technical Assistance toolkit. This new section includes background on California’s unique historic relationship with Tribes, a set of core principles for working with Tribes, best practices for developing a Tribal-specific TA program, resources to inform Tribal engagement, and a Tribal-specific glossary.
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California Preservation Foundation
Stay up-to-date! Visit the upcoming events calendar to find workshops and webinars for preservationists, architects, planners, and anyone else interested in learning more about preservation issues.
2026 California Preservation Conference
Past Meets Possible: Reimagining Place and Purpose
The premier gathering for preservation professionals, advocates, designers, planners, and community leaders eager to explore how heritage conservation can be a force for California’s future.
Riverside, CA
May 6 - 9, 2026
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California State Library
"Ready—Or Not”: Cultural Heritage Disaster Preparedness Project
Funded by the California State Library, this free in-person workshop will introduce key disaster recovery concepts, including risk assessment, preparedness, response procedures, and recovery actions.
These workshops are open to individuals in California associated with cultural heritage organizations, such as libraries, archives, museums, and historical societies; government departments; state historic parks; cultural centers; tribal nations; county clerks; and others who work with historic and cultural resources. Click the link below for more details on dates and locations. Advance registration is required.
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California Grants Portal
Hosted by the California State Library, this is a one-stop portal for searching for grants and loans offered by state agencies.
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National Trust for Historic Preservation
Articles
Grants
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Hart Family Fund for Small Towns
This annual grant is intended to encourage preservation at the local level by providing seed money for preservation projects in small towns with populations of 10,000 or less.
Deadline: 5/01/26
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The Moe Family Fund for Statewide and Local Partners supports current dues-paying members of the National Preservation Partners Network (NPPN) with grants focused on strengthening preservation organizations and addressing pressing issues in the preservation field. This year, grant-funded projects will fall into one of three categories:
-Advocacy
-Capacity Building
-Climate Change
Deadline: 10/15/2026
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HistoriCorps
HistoriCorps is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides volunteers of all skill levels with a hands-on experience preserving historic structures on public lands across America. Volunteers work with HistoriCorps field staff to learn preservation skills and put those skills to work saving historic places that have fallen into disrepair. HistoriCorps works to ensure America’s cultural and historical resources exist for generations to come.
Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities:
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US Green Building Council, California
Green Building Conference 2026
More than 1,000 professionals from across industries, including architecture, design, engineering, construction, development, manufacturing, policy, education, and community leadership, come together for a dynamic day of networking, learning, and inspiration. The conference will be focused on green building, climate resilience, and cutting-edge solutions for California’s built environment.
May 26- 27, 2026
| | Items posted in the ePost are presented as an informational courtesy and do not constitute an endorsement by the Office of Historic Preservation. | | |
News from California State Parks
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