Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Established by the Mission District Historical Society (MDHS) in 1994 as the Heritage Buildings Branch, it is the third Branch of the MDHS. It was later renamed the Heritage Places Branch.

HPB works to develop an Inventory of Heritage Resources that includes sites with significant heritage value to the community. The branch seeks to celebrate and preserve the memory of our heritage buildings, special places, and the natural environment.

Our growing database of historic resources is made up of the many places in Mission where community history happens. Heritage resources include buildings, special places, and the natural environment. Ultimately, the Inventory is provided to the Mission Community Heritage Commission for the purpose of a Community Heritage Register. Not all of the resources on our Inventory will become part of the District Heritage Register. However, we work to ensure that the research done on these historic resources is made available to the public through our online Profiles of Historic Sites.

A heritage register is an official list of properties identified as having heritage value or character. In March 2009, the District Of Mission adopted policy LAN.57 Identification and Protection of Heritage Resources.

Information source: “What is a Heritage Register” pamphlet produced by the Mission District ca.2006