THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR’S STANDARDS EXPLAINED

What are the Standards?Implemented by the Secretary of the Department of the Interior, the

Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties guide the

maintenance, replacement, and repairing of historic materials, as well as the

designs of new additions and alterations to a property. There are also

Guidelines that recommend how the Standards should be applied to a

historic property.

There are four approaches to the treatment of historic properties.The four techniques -- preservation, rehabilitation, restoration, and

reconstruction -- each have their own set of Standards and Guidelines. This toolkit

explains the significance of each technique and how it can be applied to a historic

property.

Preservation as a treatmentThis approach focuses on the maintenance and repair of existing historic

materials and retaining the form and character of a property as it has evolved

over time.

Rehabilitation as a treatmentRehabilitation recognizes the need to alter or add to a historic

property in order to meet continuing or changing uses while

simultaneously retaining the character of the historic property.

Restoration as a treatmentThis method focuses on depicting a property at a certain period of time in history,

and removes evidence from other periods that aren’t appropriate.

Reconstruction as a treatmentReconstruction sets out to re-create lost or non-surviving aspects or

portions of a property for interpretive purposes.

Find out more about the Standards.For more information and a full list of the Standards and Guidelines for the

Treatment of Historic Properties, click here.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation works to save America’s

historic places. Preservation Tips & Tools helps others do the same

in their own communities.

For more information, visit blog.preservationnation.org.

Photos courtesy: Lyza, Flickr; Rev. Xanatos Satanicos Bombasticos, Flickr; Kansas Sebastian, Flickr; Jimmy Emerson DVM, Flickr; Zach Frailey, Flickr; Missvain, Wikimedia.