The Kentucky Heritage Council is part of the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet in Kentucky state government. The State Historic Preservation Officer and Executive Director is Craig Potts.
The Kentucky Heritage Council / State Historic Preservation Office Web. Our mission is to identify, preserve and protect the cultural resources of Kentucky. Heritage Council staff administer all state and federal historic preservation and incentive programs in Kentucky, including the National Register of Historic Places. Sixteen Kentucky Heritage Council members are appointed by the governor of the state to serve four year terms on the Heritage Council. Council members live across the state representing the citizens of the Commonwealth and engaging in historic preservation projects.
The Heritage Council is a repository of survey forms, maps, photographs and other images in its archival collection of inventories of historic structures and archaeological sites in the state. It promotes a variety of programs including the Kentucky Crossroads Rural Heritage Development Initiative, an rural preservation/economic development partnership with Preservation Kentucky. The Kentucky Archaeological Survey, a partnership with the University of Kentucky Department of Anthropology, promotes the preservation of archaeological sites and educates the public about protecting these resources.
The Heritage Council seeks to build a greater awareness of Kentucky's historic places and to encourage the long-term preservation of Kentucky's cultural resources. Kentucky fourth in the number of properties listed in the National Register of Historic Places, and administers the federal and statewide rehabilitation tax credit programs.