The National Center for Preservation Technology and Training is a research, technology, and training center of the U.S. National Park Service

National Park Service

The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...

 located on the campus of Northwestern State University

Northwestern State University

Northwestern State University, known as NSU, is a four-year public university primarily situated in Natchitoches, Louisiana, with a nursing campus in Shreveport and general campuses in Leesville/Fort Polk and Alexandria. It is a part of the University of Louisiana System.NSU was founded in 1884 as...

. Since its founding in 1994, NCPTT has awarded over $7 million in grants for research that fulfills its mission of advancing the use of science and technology in the field of historic preservation. NCPTT undertakes research at its in-house laboratories at Lee H. Nelson Hall in Natchitoches, Louisiana

Natchitoches, Louisiana

Natchitoches is a city in and the parish seat of Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, United States. Established in 1714 by Louis Juchereau de St. Denis as part of French Louisiana, the community was named after the Natchitoches Indian tribe. The City of Natchitoches was first incorporated on February...

. Working in the fields of archeology, architecture, landscape architecture and materials conservation, the National Center accomplishes its mission through training, education, research, technology transfer and partnerships.

History

NCPTT has its beginnings in "Technologies for Prehistoric and Historic Preservation," the Office of Technology Assessment that U.S. Congress published in September 1986. This report was requested by the House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs to assess preservation technologies and their use by federal agencies in the implementation of laws relating to prehistoric and historic preservation. Among the major findings of this report was the need for:

• Training in the use of technologies,
• Studying ways to apply known technologies to preservation problems,
• Improving information sharing and coordination,
• Finding the appropriate fit of technologies to preservation problems,
• Reducing the costs of new technologies, and
• Developing standards for the application of new technologies

The report cited the critical need to establish a federally funded institution as a mechanism to coordinate research, disseminate information and provide training about new technologies in preservation.

Research

NCPTT labs include a unique environmental chamber that allows researchers to test the effects of pollutants on cultural materials.

To facilitate preservation technology research, NCPTT maintains a broad partnership base that includes National Park Service sites; other federal agencies; state and tribal historic preservation offices; universities; private corporations; and local, state, national and international non-profit organizations.

NCPTT’s website and publications enable the National Center to deliver the latest news about preservation technologies to a variety of audiences. Additionally, its content on social media services is available through Creative Commons licenses.

Grants

The Center's PTT Grants program provides direct and competitive grants to promote research and training opportunities in preservation technology.

Research

NCPTT's website provides instantly downloadable research from the Center's hundreds of PTT Grants products.

Training

The National Center develops and conducts seminars and workshops nationwide on topics like cemetery monument conservation. NCPTT promotes excellence in preservation by promoting external historic preservation training and education opportunities for professionals.

External links

• NCPTT website
• NCPTT article on Preservapedia (a project sponsored by NCPTT)