DCR’s protected public lands in Massachusetts provide a record of human occupancy extending over 12,000 years—our collective cultural heritage. The Office of Cultural Resources (OCR) guides DCR’s careful stewardship of this heritage, which encompasses a diverse collection of archaeological sites, historic structures and landscapes, and archives. Through planning, collaboration, and programs for long-term stewardship of DCR properties, the Office enhances access to these cultural assets for all people, now and in future generations.
Explore DCR's Cultural Resources
Who We Are
Archaeology stewards DCR’s non-renewable surface and subsurface archaeological resources through internal and external collaboration, development and implementation of best management practices, research, and education.
Archives Management organizes, preserves, and provides access to DCR’s archival collections. DCR's Archives Management Team is made up of two programs: the Archives and the Plans Library.
First Peoples, First Stewards supports Tribal Governments and Indigenous Community Stakeholders by building reciprocal relationships that provide access and opportunities for Indigenous people to connect with the land, water, and Natural World and unite in the co-stewardship of Indigenous homelands.
Historic Landscape Preservation & Outreach provides leadership and support to the preservation of a cross section of natural and cultural features, helping to connect people to parks.
Preservation Planning and Review identifies and inventories DCR’s cultural resources; evaluates their significance; guides their treatment; and oversees the associated regulatory compliance processes.
Rehabilitation and Adaptive Reuse revives DCR’s historically significant yet vulnerable buildings by leveraging public and private resources, engaging preservation partners, and applying creative rehabilitation and reuse strategies.
Resource Management Planning develops property plans through a collaborative, multidisciplinary process in support of DCR’s stewardship mission. These plans document the identity, key resources, and needs of Massachusetts’ reservations, parks, and forests.
What are Cultural Resources?
Cultural Resources:
- Are the tangible evidence of past human activities, and intangible products such as persisting cultural traditions
- Provide knowledge about the past, help us to understand the present, and guide choices about the future
- Possess significant associations with important historical events, trends, people, or culture
- Are nonrenewable
