From April 7-9th, Chicago was the place to be for anyone passionate about preserving and progressing the field of historic trades. The 2025 American Historic Trades Summit brought together an incredible mix of educators, tradespeople, program leaders, students, and advocates from across the country. Things kicked off with a Welcome Reception at the beautiful Driehaus Museum, where the detailed craftsmanship and historic setting perfectly captured the spirit of the Summit. More than just a meet and greet, it set the tone for meaningful conversations and connections.
The core of the Summit began the next day, April 8, at HIRE360, with five thoughtful and engaging sessions. These covered everything from designing effective training programs to developing strong apprenticeship models, and recruiting the next generation of trades professionals. The keynote address by Andrew Rowand of TradesUp delivered inspiration and clarity on ways to empower a new generation to experience the joy of hands-on creation, making, and problem solving in historic trades. Later, attendees gathered at Revolution Workshop, a place of free pre-apprenticeship construction training and job placement in Chicago, for a laid-back Happy Hour.
The final day, April 9, featured three more sessions that dug deeper into recruitment, student perspectives, and preservation networks. A panel of students from training programs throughout the U.S. shared their honest experiences in their training and subsequent careers. The Summit wrapped with a guided tour of Pullman National Historical Park and Pullman Tech’s Workshop, a fitting end that brought history to life and solidified the week’s connections. For everyone involved, it wasn’t just a professional gathering; it was a reminder of the value of preserving trades skills and craftsmanship for generations to come.
The Campaign for Historic Trades thanks the attendees, speakers, and sponsors for supporting our event and mission to strengthen and expand historic trades training and careers.
- Pullman Tech Workshop
- Revolution Workshop
- Driehaus Foundation
- The Durable Restoration Company
- Double Hung Historic Window Restoration
- Alphawood Foundation Chicago
- Preservation Action
- WRTP | BIG STEP
- Living Heritage Trades Academy
- Savannah Technical College’s Historic Preservation and Restoration Program
- HRVY WoodWorks
- American College of the Building Arts
- Window Preservation Alliance
- Chicago Chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction
- Landmarks Illinois