From July 14–18, 2025, The Campaign for Historic Trades partnered with the Historic Preservation Training Center and the National Park Service to deliver a five-day, hands-on plaster repair workshop at Au Sable Light Station in Michigan.
Au Sable Lighthouse
Co-instructors Blair Bates and Kelly Fuller provided participants with comprehensive instruction in traditional techniques for assessing, mixing, and applying lime plaster to historic walls and ceilings.
Co-instructor Blair Bates instructs park staff as he investigates causes of failing plaster.
Attendees praised the balance of hands-on experience, the quality of instruction, and the immersive learning environment:
“I thought the training was fantastic. We could have spent months working on the building we were in, and I feel we accomplished more by the end of day 4 than what anyone expected.” -Greg R.
Removing failing materials
“Expected to be mixing mud and putting it on the wall. I learned a ton about the causes for the failing interior walls in our building and the cultural approach to engineering at the time of construction. I was very happy to learn that you can create walls from just two materials, sand and lime.” -Josef F.
Preparing to replaster
“It’s a lost art form…. you are not going to “get it” from a book, hands on is critical” -Ron J.
“It’s nice to be able to learn the history of plaster work and then be able to actually do the work.” -Greg R.
Practicing replastering before beginning the work
The workshop at the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is one of The Campaign’s Training Wheels workshops. In these workshops, trades professionals spend 1-2 weeks training staff in role-specific trades skills. If your organization would like to set up a Training Wheels workshop, contact kpratt@historictrades.org for more information.
Don’t just read about it—get your hands on history!
Spots for our public trades workshops are limited, so sign up today and start learning the skills that keep historic buildings alive.
Our next workshop is happening September 26-27, 2025 in Frederick, Maryland.
