|
The
Field of Historic Preservation
Historic
preservation is a dynamic and evolving field, focusing on the care
and management of the built environment and the protection of other
cultural resources. Now strongly tied to local, state and federal
laws, historic preservation as both a field of inquiry and as a
profession has matured considerably since the beginnings of interest
in preserving aspects of history and culture first took root during
the middle part of the 19th century. Historic preservationists today
work in city, state and county agencies, for the federal government,
in museums and non-profit organizations and in private planning,
architecture and resource management firms. Increasingly, preservationists
are involved in education, both at the K-12 level and in colleges
and universities. There are currently over two dozen institutions
of higher learning in the U.S. offering degrees or other courses
or training in historic preservation.
Graduates
of historic preservation programs might find themselves involved
in any of the following activities or jobs:
- serving
as the staff advisor to a local historic preservation commission;
- working
for a cultural resource firm, conducting surveys of historic and
archaeological resources;
- preparing
design guidelines for a neighborhood or community as part of an
architectural team;
- conducting
a detailed examination of a historic site or building as part
of a meticulous restoration or rehabilitation plan;
- reviewing
proposed development projects on behalf of a state or county agency
to ensure compliance with historic preservation laws;
- preparing
an educational module for schools on architecture and the environment;
- conducting
public workshops on historic preservation issues either on behalf
of a non-profit organization or a governmental agency;
- devising
a maintenance plan for a building of historic significance;
- designing
a new addition to a historic building or a new building in a historic
neighborhood;
- working
as an administrator for a federal agency involved in historic
preservation work, e.g., the National Park Service and other divisions
of the Department of the Interior, the General Services Administration,
the Army Corps of Engineers, or even the Department of Defense,
which has its own many historic preservation requirements;
- researching
the history of a building, site or area as part of an interpretation
plan;
- managing
a museum or other non-profit preservation-related organization;
- preparing
measured drawings and other documentation for a historic property
as part of a larger preservation project;
- working
in a grants-giving organization involved in cultural programs;
- conducting
mortar or paint analysis to determine the original character of
a building;
- developing
a tourism management plan for a city or region, or possibly a
developing country, focusing on cultural heritage;
- teaching
younger students about their heritage or conducting a course for
adults or full-time college or university students.
|
