Top Trade Schools for Historic Preservation in the U.S.

Schools, nonprofits, and organizations around the country are dedicated to advancing historic preservation, spearheading research and educating the next generation of tradespeople. Read on to learn more about some of the top trades schools for historic preservation around the U.S.

Based in DC, the Association for Preservation Technology International (APTI) has chapters throughout the world. The nonprofit membership organization promotes traditional and new technologies to maintain and protect historic structures. They hold conferences, tours, trainings, and webinars throughout the year.

The Campaign for Historic Trades is a workforce development initiative for folks working in historic trades. They’ll help you apply for scholarships or fellowships, enroll in classes, find mentors, attend conferences, and join professional networks.

This nonprofit is a great place for beginners — they engage people of all skill levels in volunteer historic preservation work at sites around the country. They also have workforce training programs where they teach folks valuable skills for a career in preservation.

This program by the National Trust for Historic Preservation stands for Hands-On Preservation Experience. The initiative trains young people in historic preservation trades, restoring historic sites while rebuilding trade skills.

The Craftwork Training Center by LimeWorks assists both experienced and aspiring artisans to practice and perfect their crafts, helping folks grow and foster their careers. Their hands-on workshops teach applicable skills from their Pennsylvania headquarters, like ornamental terracotta and stone repair or restoring historic wood windows and doors.

The Historic Preservation Training Center by NPS helps folks advance their careers in historic preservation. Their Traditional Trades Advancement Program lets participants train and work alongside NPS employees experienced in historic preservation at one of many NPS sites around the country over a 26-week course.

NPS also has a research and education center dedicated to advancing the field of historic preservation. Located in Natchitoches, Louisiana, NCPTT conducts research, hosts training courses and workshops, and awards NPS grants.

This nonprofit membership organization helps provide education, networking, events, and workshops for its members across North America, including practicing tradespeople, architects, conservators, engineers, preservationists, and students.

This private, four-year liberal arts and sciences college in Charleston is the only college in the US that combines professional training in traditional building trades like blacksmithing, timber framing, or classical architecture & design with a core curriculum in liberal arts, so students graduate with both a four-year baccalaureate degree and professional building trades training.

This public community college in Ohio offers degrees and certificates in programs like industrial trades and building preservation and restoration.

Bucks County Community College has three locations in Pennsylvania and offers a range of program types, from literature to STEM, along with education in the trades. They offer certificates in historic preservation and furniture & cabinet making, along with career training programs in trades like welding and building & construction.

This private vocational school in Boston’s historic North End offers career training programs in subjects like preservation carpentry, cabinet & furniture making, and even bookbinding and violin making.

A public community college in Georgia, Savannah Technical College offers dozens of programs of studies with real-world applicability, including subjects like historic preservation and welding & joining technology.

This public college in Pennsylvania specializes in technical and trade subjects, including associates degrees in subjects like masonry, welding, carpentry, and cabinet making.

The Heartwood School located in New Hampshire teaches timber framing and other traditional trades in its courses, including fundamentals of woodworking, timber frame preservation, and carpentry for women+.