Virginia Historic Landmarks Commission

On 10 February 1966 Senate Bill 108 was introduced and read for the first time in the House of Delegates. Recognizing Virginia's valuable historical resources, this legislation sought to protect, preserve, and promote the irreplaceable, tangible heritage of the commonwealth.

By the 1960s, the movement to preserve properties significant to the history of the United States had grown tremendously, symbolized on a national level by the creation of the National Historic Landmarks Program by the National Park Service in 1960. Cognizant of the tremendous role played by Virginia and its people in the history of the nation, the Virginia Outdoor Recreation Study Commission was formed in 1965 by an act of the 1964 General Assembly. This commission was charged with determining the appropriate role for the government of the commonwealth to play in preserving this rich heritage.

Senate Bill 108, adopted and signed into law in 1966, was the by-product of the research and suggestions of the commission. This act provided for the establishment of the Virginia Historic Landmarks Commission (VHLC), a state agency that would ultimately be responsible for identifying structures and areas of significance and providing for their protection. Shortly after the creation of the VHLC, it was determined that a detailed listing of landmarks, known as the Virginia Landmarks Register, would need to be compiled as a published guide to valuable resources in the state.

Today, the agency once known as the Virginia Landmarks Commission is an independent state agency known as the Department of Historic Resources. In addition to constantly updating the Virginia Landmarks Register of nearly 2,000 historic properties and sites, this agency is also responsible for the Virginia Historical Highway Marker Program. The Department of Historic Resources oversees archaeological studies and educational programs, provides easements and tax credits to assist in the preservation of historic properties, and provides resources for responsible preservation planning throughout the commonwealth.