Volunteering and Historic Preservation

by Erin White, Associate Program Analyst

In its most common form, volunteer tourism (or “voluntourism”) finds mostly young people travelling to the developing world to assist in a variety of projects, from working in orphanages to digging wells for clean drinking water. The phenomenon has exploded, with numerous companies offering volunteer opportunities across the globe. Closer to home, however, one organization has a slightly different angle on this industry.

HistoriCorps, a nonprofit based in Denver, Colorado, engages volunteers to work on historic preservation projects on both public and private land here in the United States. They partner with government agencies such as the US Forest Service as well as historical preservation organizations to arrange trips for volunteers to help improve or maintain historic sites across the country. Projects last for weeks or months, broken down into short sessions to allow volunteers to make the most of their time. HistoriCorps’ executive director, Townsend Anderson, explains, “It has really become a gateway, if you will, that historic preservation has never had before. It is introducing many non-preservationists to historic preservation. HistoriCorps has offered, for me, the best opportunity I have had to teach a preservation ethic.”

Direct, hands on preservation work may not appeal to everyone, but many preservation organizations accept donations to support their work. If you’re interested in finding out about the variety of nonprofit organizations working to preserve historic sites and landmarks, you can find our list of organizations here. Using our advanced search feature, you can even filter to find locations close to you, or find sites on your must-visit list!

Photo Credit: U.S. Department of Agriculture