Historic Harrisburg Association has had an open and honest working relationship with mayoral administrations and gubernatorial administrations for the more than 50 years that we have been in existence. The results of those relationships have been numerous, and invariably positive.
Pennsylvania’s capital city has benefitted because public officials have seen the value of historic preservation as a key tool in urban revitalization. This has been the case since shortly after Historic Harrisburg was founded in 1973 in the aftermath of two catastrophic events, the Hurricane Agnes Flood in 1972 and the demolition of the spectacular State Theatre.
The events prompted our founders to initiate advocacy efforts that helped to persuade decision makers to abandon failed policies of “urban renewal” wherein entire neighborhoods were leveled. Some parts of Harrisburg still show the scars of that era…