Without skilled workers who know exactly how to reset a stone or repair a window, historic preservation can’t happen. The tradespeople on a project are the ones who translate a detailed plan into a finished product, using their hard-won know-how to maintain beauty and preserve history. The National Trust recognized this when it created HOPE (Hands-On Preservation Experience) Crew in 2014. Over 10 years, HOPE Crew has trained more than 860 paid participants who are taught by experts in their fields. From its first project rehabilitating stables in Shenandoah National Park to recent work at Threatt Filling Station in Luther, Oklahoma, the program has provided opportunities for people to see what it’s like to work on a job site alongside preservation professionals—no experience required. “It’s meant to spark that interest in the trades,” says the National Trust’s Milan Jordan, director of the HOPE Crew program. “We’re hoping someone will see themselves in that part of the preservation movement.” Read the full article here.
