Historic Preservation Fundamentals Course at Circular Church

The Historic Preservation Fundamentals is a three-day course designed by the National Park Service that engages participants in learning about the significance of historic properties and the value of preserving them. This course is for people who do not have a formal education in historic preservation but want to understand the language, terms, and theory behind saving historic places. Through a series of interactive classroom and field-based learning activities, participants gain knowledge and skill in: understanding the importance of historic properties; distinguishing the qualities of a historic property that make it significant and help to communicate its history; making decisions about doing work on historic properties to help preserve them; and, establishing a baseline vocabulary of professional historic preservation terminology.  

This course is taught by Nina Peppers, PSC Director of Programs & Learning. Nina was certified by the National Park Service to teach Historic Preservation Fundamentals in 2022 and has presented this curriculum around the country for various groups including the NPS Traditional Trades Advancement Program and the Massachusetts Historic Preservation Corps.  

To manage capacity, an application will be required to confirm interest, availability, and background for participation. Participants will be notified by May 2 of their acceptance or waitlist eligibility. This course is limited to 10 participants. You must be a member of the Preservation Society of Charleston to enroll in this course. Become a member here.   

Course Requirements: 

• Application form, approval, and registration is required. 

• A current member of the Preservation Society of Charleston. 

• Participants must be able to attend all three Fridays in order to receive the certificate – May 15, 22, and 29: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM 

• Participants should bring a lunch and snacks. The lunch break will be 30 minutes. Coffee will be provided in the morning.  

• A workbook will be provided and must be brought to each class. 

 Outcomes: 

After completing Historic Preservation Fundamentals, participants will be able to: 

• Understand that places can have meaning and convey history and associated information. 

• Identify reasons (National Register Criteria) a property can be determined to be historically significant. 

• Recognize aspects used when considering a historic property’s integrity. 

• Identify which aspects of integrity may be most affected by work done at a historic property. 

• Ability to recognize and describe character defining features of a historic property. 

• Explain the role and function of condition assessments and preservation maintenance skills when caring for historic properties. 

• Identify four preservation treatment standards. 

• Ability to locate and use documents that can be helpful with guiding work on a historic property. 
• Ability to use professional historic preservation terminology in conversations relevant to working at a historic property.