In 1961 City Council established the City's first historic preservation committee. The Raleigh Historic Development Commission (RHDC) is the successor organization to that committee. Over the years, many citizens in service have collaborated with the City to preserve Raleigh's history and character by:

• Contributing to statewide and national historic preservation policy [A-S-P Associates v. City of Raleigh, 298 N.C. 207, 258 S.E.2d 444 (1979)]
• Developing and adopting historic preservation ordinances
• Generating the historic preservation element of the City's Comprehensive Plan
• Designating local and National Register historic districts
• Publishing Design Guidelines for exterior changes to locally-designated properties
• Founding the Raleigh Historic Landmarks program
• Adding the City of Raleigh as a destination in the National Register of Historic Places' Travel Itinerary 
• Developing relationships with historic communities and entities throughout the city, county, and state
• Educating the public through preservation publications and lecture series
• Providing technical assistance to historic district and landmark property owners and stewards
• Providing public support of external historic preservation efforts throughout the city