Technical Assistance
Tip Sheets, Resources, and Information for your Preservation Project
The National Trust for Historic Preservation has a wide variety of informational resources to help you advance your preservation project. Below is a sampling of some of the prepared information sheets that are available online or by contacting the Northeast Office. We encourage you to contact us at nero@nthp.org -- we may have additional information we can share.
Tip Sheet Series from the Northeast Office
Saving America's Natural and Cultural Legacy: Case Studies
The National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Land Trust Alliance are working together to build bridges between the preservation and conservation movements, with the goal of saving all the elements that make places special. Together, significant natural areas and historic resources make up America's irreplaceable legacy. The loss of one depletes our experience and understanding of the other. But across the country, organizations and individuals are working on projects combining protection of historic, scenic, cultural, and natural values. If you have a story to share - a missed opportunity, a great save, a joint effort - please share your story with the Northeast Office!
- Bowers Harbor Inn - Historic Preservation and Land Trust in Partnership
- Little Tennessee - Regional Land Trust Saving Historic and Cultural Resources
- Octagonal Barn - Land Trust Rehabilitating a Local Agricultural Landmark
Advocacy
The National Trust for Historic Preservation's Center for State and Local Policy offers an informational series on a variety of topics, including:
- Working with an Advocacy Coalition
- Developing a Grassroots Network
- Communicating with Elected Officials
- Lobbying and Political Action: What is Permissible by 501(c)3 Organizations?
- Media Communications for Advocacy Campaigns
- Supporting Historic Preservation Through a Legislative Caucus
- Planning an Advocacy Campaign: General Strategy Tips
These information sheets can all be downloaded for free as PDFs by clicking on the title(s) above.
Model Public Policy Series
The Center for State and Local Policy also provides educational materials focused on the specific needs and issues confronting preservation interests. The Model Public Policies series provides an analysis of specific preservation policies and examples of best practices at the state and local level.
- State Rehabilitation Tax Credits
- Context Sensitive Solution in Transportation Planning
- Innovative Ways to Generate State Funding
- Preserving Historic Schools
- Adopting 21st Century Codes for Historic Buildings
- Approaches to Managing Teardowns
- Incorporating Historic Preservation into Low-Income Housing through Qualified Allocation Plans
These information sheets can all be downloaded for free as PDFs by clicking on the title(s) above.
Legal Resources
The Law Department of the National Trust for Historic Preservation provides a full variety of legal services in support of historic preservation, from in-house legal advice to public legal advocacy in preservation cases and controversies across the country. On the Legal Resources page, you'll find a law glossary, important information on preservation easements, details on workshops and training opportunities, and information on the National Trust Legal Defense Fund.
Help for Barns
The National Trust's Barn Again! Program helps farmers and ranchers find ways to maintain and use historic barns and agricultural buildings as part of modern agricultural production. Created and managed in partnership with Successful Farming magazine, the BARN AGAIN! Program offers publications on technical issues, organizes educational workshops and recognizes good stewardship through an annual Awards Program. Several Tip Sheets are available to download for free on the Publications page. Titles include:
- NEW! Historic Barns: Working Assets for Sustainable Farms. Publication on Sustainable Agriculture and Historic Barns describes how older and historic barns can provide practical benefits to one of the most exciting and fastest growing segments of the rural economy—sustainable agriculture
- BARN AGAIN! A Guide to Rehabilitation of Older Farm Buildings
- Using Old Farm Buildings
- Protecting Older and Historic Barns through Barn Preservation Programs
- Barn Aid #1: Barn Foundations.
- Barn Aid #2: New Spaces for Old Places
- Barn Aid #3: Barn Exteriors and Painting
- Barn Aid #4: Barn Roofs
Your state or area might have an organization that is working to protect barns and rural resources. Contact your local or statewide preservation organization, your state historic preservation office, or the National Barn Alliance to ask about programs in your area.
Preservation Briefs and Tech Notes from the National Park Service
The National Park Service has developed two series of technical assistance on a variety of subjects related to historic buildings and building materials. Topics range from how to identify architectural features to how to repair plaster to controlling moisture in historic buildings. Virtually all of the briefs are available to download for free on the Technical Preservation Services portion of their website.
