Training the next generation
of preservation tradespeople
NRF’s Historic Trades Initiative is part of a broader effort by preservation organizations and tradespeople to ensure the continuation of unique and critical skills needed to work on historic buildings. Through our workforce development efforts at the national and local level NRF supports apprenticeship development, creation of clear career pathways, and opportunities to explore the preservation trades.
The initiative utilizes the extensive knowledge and experience of the NRF preservation crew and local tradespeople to pass historic trades skills to the next generation of craftspeople working in the historic trades.
NRF offers a core set of programs each year with specialized programs added as funding is available.
Preservation Programs
Explore opportunities to develop your preservation trades skills.
NRF Preservation Crew
Our in-house crew of painters, carpenters, and millworkers preserves, restores, and maintains our historic buildings.
Historic Trades Initiative Partners
Community Stakeholders
Campaign for Historic Trades- Preservation Maryland https://historictrades.org/
National Preservation Partners Network- Workforce Development & Education Committee https://prespartners.org/
Preservation Trades Network- member of Education Initiative https://ptn.org/
Historic New England https://www.historicnewengland.org/
Providence Preservation Society https://ppsri.org/
Student Conservation Association https://thesca.org/program/young-adult/corps/historic-preservation-public-lands
IYRS School of Technology & Trades https://www.iyrs.edu/
Salve Regina University- Preservation Dept. https://salve.edu/cultural-and-historic-preservation
Roger Williams University- Preservation, Architecture, Construction Management https://www.rwu.edu/
Newport Public Schools https://www.npsri.net/
Program & Curriculum Development Contributors
Gnazzo Masonry https://gnazzo.com/
Kirby Construction https://www.kirbyperkins.com/
Crocker Architectural https://crockerarchitectural.com/
Blackburn Building Conservation https://www.blackburnconservation.com/
