MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Historical Society is pleased to announce the appointment of Tricia Canaday as the new State Historic Preservation Officer, effective Sept. 8, 2025. Canaday brings a wealth of experience in historic preservation, public service and cultural resource management and will steer the agency’s efforts to protect and promote Wisconsin’s rich historic sites and cultural heritage.
“Tricia began her career at the Society in 1989 and we are thrilled to have her return in this leadership position,” said Christian Overland, Ruth and Hartley Barker Director & CEO of the Wisconsin Historical Society. “Her passion for preservation, combined with her leadership and deep understanding of both federal and state preservation policy, makes her the ideal choice to help guide Wisconsin’s historic preservation programs into the future.”
In her role, Canaday will oversee Wisconsin’s federally designated State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). A division of the Wisconsin Historical Society following the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the SHPO leads efforts to identify, interpret and preserve significant places throughout the state. SHPO administers Wisconsin’s State and National Register of Historic Places, maintains state records on archaeological sites, protects sites on public lands, and administers property tax exemptions along with other important responsibilities.
Prior to joining the Wisconsin Historical Society, Canaday served as the Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer and SHPO Director for Idaho. Canaday also previously served as an outreach historian, architectural historian and historic preservation planner in Idaho. She attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison and holds a Bachelor of Arts in American History, a Master of Arts in Library and Information Studies and a Master of Science in Urban & Regional Planning.
“I am honored to join the Wisconsin Historical Society and serve the people of Wisconsin in this important role,” said Canaday. “Preserving historic places is not just about saving buildings. It’s about celebrating our shared stories, supporting community identity and contributing to economic vitality. I look forward to working with communities across the state to protect the places that matter to them.”
Canaday succeeds Daina Penkiunas who previously served as the State Historic Preservation Officer for the Wisconsin Historical Society and helped advance numerous preservation initiatives across the state. The Wisconsin Historical Society also thanks Amy Wyatt for her continued service as Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer as Canaday transitions into her new role at the Society.
Click here for more information about the Wisconsin Historical Society’s State Historic Preservation Office.
About the Wisconsin Historical Society
The Wisconsin Historical Society, founded in 1846, ranks as one of the largest, most active, and most diversified state historical societies in the nation. As both a state agency and a private membership organization, its mission is to help people connect to the past by collecting, preserving and sharing stories. The Wisconsin Historical Society serves millions of people every year through a wide range of sites, programs and services. For more information, visit wisconsinhistory.org.
