The California Historical Resources Information System (CHRIS) maintains a wide range of documents and materials relating to historical resources (e.g., buildings, structures, objects, historic and archaeological sites, landscapes, districts). The CHRIS operates structurally through the California Office of Historic Preservation (OHP), eight Information Centers (ICs), and the State Historical Resources Commission (SHRC). The OHP administers and coordinates the CHRIS and presents proposed CHRIS policies to the SHRC, which approves these policies in public meetings, under authorization of Public Resources Code 5020.4(a)(2) and 5020.4(a)(3). Policies are codified in the CHRIS Information Center Rules of Operation Manual.
The ICs are located on California State University campuses or museums throughout the state (see List of ICs). The ICs maintain information on cultural resources within their respective geographic areas. Information is organized by resources and reports, in a combination of digital (GIS spatial data, database records, and pdfs) and hard-copy formats. For further information on availability of data, visit About the Inventory. The ICs provide cultural resources information, on a fee for service basis, to local governments, state and federal agencies, Native American tribes, individuals with responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act, the National Historic Preservation Act, and the California Environmental Quality Act, and to the general public as well. The OHP maintains data regarding the legal significance evaluation status of cultural resources, but resource records and reports are forwarded to the respective ICs.
UPDATE: The Closure of the Central Coast Information Center and the Availability of Cultural Resources Records for San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties.
The Central Coast Information Center (CCoIC) of the California Historical Resources Information System (CHRIS), located at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, officially ceased operations on October 31, 2025. The CCoIC held and provided access to cultural resources records for San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties.
The State Office of Historic Preservation (OHP) is working to ensure a smooth transfer of cultural resources records to the receiving CHRIS Information Center, the Southern San Joaquin Valley Information Center (SSJVIC) hosted by California State University Bakersfield. It is anticipated that the SSJVIC will be ready to receive records search requests for San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties within approximately 30-days. Your patience and understanding is appreciated as the OHP and SSJVIC work together to restore public access to the records as soon as possible. Updates will be posted to this website as available.
Questions or concerns not addressed here should be directed to the acting CHRIS Coordinator, Brendon Greenaway at Brendon.Greenaway@parks.ca.gov.
Information Center Locations and Contacts
About the CHRIS Inventory
Accessing the CHRIS Inventory