Preserve the Past: Your Guide to Historic Preservation

June 24, 2025

Do you appreciate old buildings or own a historic home? Preservation Briefs from the U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO) Bookstore are your essential guide to caring for them!

Developed by the National Park Service’s Technical Preservation Services, Preservation Briefs are concise, convenient publications designed to help property owners, preservation professionals, and anyone working on historic structures understand and address common preservation challenges. They provide expert guidance on properly preserving, rehabilitating, and restoring historic buildings while maintaining their unique character and integrity.

The GPO Bookstore offers Preservation Briefs on focused topics like “Historic Decorative Metal Ceilings and Walls,” offering a history of these features and methods for their proper repair and replacement; “The Seismic Rehabilitation of Historic Buildings,” explaining how to strengthen historic structures against earthquakes while retaining their character; and “Preserving Grave Markers in Historic Cemeteries,” which addresses the unique challenges of protecting these important historical artifacts, covering materials, decay, and treatment.

Why are they a must-have?

Preservation Briefs are a must-have for several reasons. They help protect our heritage by ensuring historic buildings are cared for correctly, thus preserving their unique value for future generations. Following their trusted guidance can prevent costly errors, helping you avoid damage and expensive mistakes. These briefs also empower owners, providing the essential knowledge to sensitively work on historic homes. Finally, they support professionals as a key reference for architects, contractors, and preservationists.

Investing in Preservation Briefs means investing in our shared architectural past.

The GPO Online Bookstore – Easy Access to Federal Publications

HOW DO I OBTAIN THESE RESOURCES?

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Shop Online Anytime: You can buy a vast majority of eBooks or print publications —with FREE Standard Shipping worldwide— from the U.S. Government Online Bookstore at https://bookstore.gpo.gov.

Order by Phone or Email: Call our Customer Contact Center Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4:30 pm Eastern (except US Federal holidays). From US and Canada, call toll-free 1.866.512.1800. DC or International customers call +1.202.512.1800.

Visit a Federal depository library: Search for U.S. Government publications in a nearby Federal depository library. You can find the records for most titles in GPO’s Catalog of U.S. Government Publications.

Find more than a million official Federal Government publications from all three branches at www.govinfo.gov.

About the author: Blogger Trudy Hawkins is the Senior Marketing & Promotions Specialist in GPO’s Publication & Information Sales Office supporting the U.S. Government Online Bookstore (https://bookstore.gpo.gov).