PLD with on-chip memory having a shadow register

Methods and apparatus for initializing and determining the contents of a memory block in a programmable logic device. One apparatus includes a logic element, programmably configurable to implement user-defined combinatorial or registered logic functions, and a memory block to store data. The memory block is coupled to the logic element. The memory block includes a memory storage cell to store a first data bit, a shadow cell to store a second data bit, and a transfer circuit. When a first control line of a transfer circuit is asserted, the second bit is transferred from the shadow cell to the memory storage cell. When a second control line of the transfer circuit is asserted, the first bit is transferred from the memory storage cell to the shadow cell.