The City of Mineral Point is pleased to announce the start of an important community project to update the survey of historic structures throughout the city. This effort will include all properties within the National Register Historic District—essentially the entire city and its surrounding area.
Mineral Point holds a special place in Wisconsin history as the first city in the state listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. The last comprehensive historic survey was completed in 1992, and this new effort will help ensure that our community’s rich architectural and cultural heritage is accurately documented and preserved for future generations.
The survey will be conducted by Legacy Architecture, Inc., an architectural and historic preservation consulting firm. Funding for the project comes through a grant from Wisconsin’s Certified Local Government (CLG) program. Legacy Architecture will work with the State Historic Preservation Office to update existing records for properties already listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places and to evaluate properties currently classified as non-contributing that may now be considered historically significant.
The fieldwork portion of the project will begin the week of March 23. During this phase, surveyors will photograph and document historic properties throughout the district. Afterward, the team will conduct architectural and historical research and evaluate significant resources for inclusion in the updated intensive survey report.
As part of the process, the community is invited to attend a public information meeting.
Wednesday, March 18, 7:00 p.m.
Community Room, Mineral Point City Hall, 137 High Street
This open meeting will be hosted by the City’s Historic Preservation Committee. Rowan Davidson, Historic Preservation Consultant with Legacy Architecture, will present an overview of the history of historic preservation in Mineral Point and explain what an intensive historic survey is, why it is important, and how it will be conducted. The meeting will also include discussion of research methods, opportunities to share local historical knowledge, and time for questions and community input.
Jason Tish, Certified Local Government Coordinator and Preservation Education Coordinator with the State Historic Preservation Office, will also be in attendance.
Community participation is encouraged. If you have questions, please contact Matthew Payne, Chair of the Historic Preservation Committee.
Residents are also invited to explore the previous 1991–1992 historic survey and other historic preservation resources available online: cityofmineralpoint.com/a-guide-to-historic-preservation/
Mineral Point’s historic character is one of the community’s greatest treasures, and this project will help ensure that its stories and buildings continue to be recognized and appreciated for years to come.