The Campaign at the National Building Museum’s Big Build

11.06.2023

Two people stand behind the CHT table with signs beside them.
The Campaign team members, Andrea Barber and Jordan Riggs, were excited to talk with the public about opportunities.
Child holding brick trowel uses tuck pointer to add mortar, while NPS employee watches.
Jessica Gordon from HPTC helps the first of many future masons!

Saturday, October 14, The Campaign for Historic Trades attended the National Building Museum’s Big Build festival. Over 5,000 people of all ages came for a variety of activities hosted by trades professionals from across the country. As leaders in the national movement to strengthen and expand historic trades careers, The Campaign strives to not only inform the next generation of trades people about historic preservation, but to engage them with hands-on learning experiences.

CHT employee and child hold trowel and pointer with mortar over a wheelbarrow.
CHT employee guides a child holding trowel and pointer to apply mortar in brick wall, while parent watches.
The Campaign team member, Jordan Riggs, assists in gathering and repointing mortar.

The National Park Service’s Historic Preservation Training Center provided a repointing demonstration, which led to children and adults picking up the tools themselves to try! Repointing is the process of removing deteriorated mortar and replacing it with new mortar. Masons often need to analyze the old mortar to be sure the replacement mortar’s components match closely to the old to prevent future issues. While the repointing station was busy, we educated parents and young adults on HPTC’s preservation training programs, TTAP and Historic Stewards, and the benefits of entering a career in a historic preservation trade.

Want to learn more about these opportunities? Join us for an upcoming Zoom Expo here!

A person uses a tuck pointer to apply mortar while another person holds tools smiling.
Three children look down at wheelbarrow of mortar while three parents stand behind them.
Two children use trowels and pointers to apply mortar to brick wall. NPS employee and smiling parent watch.
Four children use trowels to apply mortar to small brick wall.
Trades enthusiasts of all ages visited us to try their hand at repointing!