Massachusetts Historic Preservation Corps Receives Paul & Niki Tsongas Award

Massachusetts Historic Preservation Corps

Preservation Mass is pleased to announce that the Massachusetts Historic Preservation Corps received a 2025 Paul & Niki Tsongas Award.

The Massachusetts Historic Preservation Corps is a 10-month AmeriCorps program providing training to young adults in preservation trades. The program, managed by the Student Conservation Association, partners with and receives funding from AmeriCorps, Massachusetts Service Alliance, MA Department of Conservation and Recreation, and the National Park Service to offer a unique opportunity for young adults looking to gain leadership and hands-on experience in Historic Preservation trades. 2025 marks the ninth year for the Historic Preservation Corps program. Since the start of the program, Corps Members have not only learned the skills of historic preservation but also contributed nearly 200,000 hours of service at public historic sites across Massachusetts.

The program exists to uphold the preservation field through trades training; giving young people the skills and confidence to ensure our historic fabric remains for years to come. The program not only creates tradespeople skilled in historic craft, but also develops workers who have strong communication skills, show empathy, and collaborate successfully on a team. With a focus on understanding and belonging, the Corps is a safe place for people from all walks of life to learn. This program is one of only two AmeriCorps programs in the country that focuses on historic preservation trades.

Through this program, hundreds of windows have been restored, thousands of square feet of brick and stone repointed, countless historic components and features painted and protected. Nearly a hundred new preservationists have entered the historic trades field, contributing to the incredibly vital work of preserving our history. With each new program year, the Massachusetts Historic Preservation Corps has the opportunity to continue this legacy and continue to build future generations of preservation tradespeople.