Historic Preservation Training Center        

 

                 

National Park Service                       U.S. Department of Interior

 

Mailing Address:

Historic Preservation Training Center   National Park Service     4801A Urbana Pike Frederick, MD  21704

Telephone #:                  301-663-8206                  Fax #:                                301-663-8032

Regular Business Hours: 8:00 - 5:00 M-F

 

 

[ Home ] [ Directory ] [ NPS Employee Training Program ] [ Preservation Services ]
  HPTC Mission Statement

 

 

 

The Historic Preservation Training Center (HPTC) is dedicated to the safe preservation and maintenance of national parks or partner facilities by demonstrating outstanding leadership, delivering quality preservation services, and developing educational courses that fulfill the competency requirements of Service employees in the career fields of Historic Preservation Skills, Risk Management, Maintenance, and Planning, Design, and Construction.


 

 HPTC History

                                   The HPTC was founded in  1977 to meet the growing demand for craft skills development for NPS employees tasked with preserving the thousands of historic structures within the National Park System.  In 1995, the Center joined the NPS Training and Development Division to become one of four NPS Training Centers.

 The HPTC is currently located in Frederick, Maryland. The headquarters/administrative office is located within the Monocacy National Battlefield at the historic Gambrill House.

  The Shop is located in the historic Jenkins Cannery building in downtown Frederick. The HPTC staff and trainees currently total approximately 70.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
The HPTC offers a three year training program for Exhibits Specialists (Restoration). Competitively selected individuals have had some previous experience in building crafts, architecture, or materials conservation and have career goals directed towards positions that involve responsibility for the treatment of historic structures within the NPS.

Each trainee follows a self-directed competency  based curriculum that includes:

  • preservation philosophy based on the latest historic preservation laws, regulations, and guidelines
  • identification, evaluation, documentation, and preservation of historic structures
  • identification and application of preservation techniques for various building materials and technologies
  • an understanding of the health and safety issues associated with working on historic structures
  • knowledge of preservation project management

By direct involvement in projects ever increasing in complexity, the trainee develops expertise in a specific craft skill or the technical management of projects. 

Upon certification and completion of the training program, trainees are placed in career positions within the National Park Service.

Throughout the year, the HPTC also offers short training events beyond the three-year program. Seminars, on-site skills training, and workshops are scheduled for NPS or other federal, state, and local government employees. The HPTC staff will travel to parks or other locations to conduct this training or will host it in the Frederick, Maryland headquarters office and surrounding vicinity.

Recent events have included:

New Evaluation Report for PAST Program

Instructors are drawn from NPS staff and experts across the country.  Most events are 40 hours or less and are of such a specialized nature that it is generally not offered by other training centers. Custom designed courses can be developed to address unique requirements of a client.

Skills learned in the field and in the classroom can be taken by the employee to share with other staff members. Most classroom training is accompanied by printed materials and manuals. The employee's professional development and the heightened awareness of preservation philosophy and appropriate techniques aids in the long-term effective management of cultural resources.

 

NPS Employee Training Program