Have you ever imagined building a career where you work with your hands, preserve history, and spend your days in some of the most breathtaking landscapes in the country? If so, the Traditional Trades Advancement Program (TTAP) may be the perfect opportunity.
The Traditional Trades Advancement Program is a nationwide workforce development initiative in partnership with the National Park Service that places aspiring preservationists at park sites across the country. Through paid, hands-on training, participants help preserve historic structures, landscapes, and essential infrastructure while building valuable skills for long-term careers in the trades.
Ready to Apply?
View active TTAP opportunities here:
https://historictrades.org/opportunities/tag/ttap/
Applications are posted on a rolling basis, and deadlines vary by position, so be sure to check back often.
How to Apply
Applicants should be prepared to submit:
- A current resume
- A one-page cover letter explaining how your background and experiences support your success in the program
Who Can Apply
TTAP is designed for individuals ready to explore careers in preservation trades and infrastructure stewardship.
✔ Ages 18–30 (up to age 35 for veterans)
✔ U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident
✔ No prior trade experience required — just a strong willingness to learn
✔ Full-time commitment (40 hours per week)
✔ 12- or 26-week placements
Why Join TTAP?
✔ Earn $18–$20 per hour
✔ Work in National Parks and historic sites across the country
✔ Gain real-world, hands-on training in high-demand trades
✔ Potential eligibility for Public Lands Corps hiring authority or Direct Hire Authority
Participants leave TTAP with professional experience, industry connections, and a strong foundation for careers in historic preservation, facilities maintenance, and public lands stewardship.
TTAP Program Tracks
TTAP offers three specialized training pathways, each focused on preserving a different aspect of our nation’s historic and environmental resources.
Historic Infrastructure Program
Participants in the Historic Infrastructure Program train alongside experienced park preservation professionals to maintain and repair historic structures and cultural resources. This track introduces participants to traditional building trades while providing extensive on-the-job training.
Participants may gain experience in:
- Masonry
- Carpentry
- Woodcraft and finishing
- Monument and structural preservation
This program is ideal for individuals interested in hands-on building trades and historic preservation careers.
Spring/Summer Placement Sites Include:
- Andersonville National Historic Site, Georgia
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park, NC & TN
- James A. Garfield National Historic Site, Ohio
- Haleakalā National Park, Hawai‘i
- Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
- Olympic National Park, Washington
- Point Reyes National Seashore, California
- Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park, Virginia
- Fort Scott National Historic Site, Kansas
- Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota
- Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, Maryland
- Hampton National Historic Site, Maryland
- Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Michigan
- Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, NJ & PA
- Catoctin Mountain Park, Maryland
- Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park, South Carolina
- Castillo de San Marcos National Monument/Fort Matanzas National Monument, Florida
- Andrew Johnson National Historic Site, Tennessee
- Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park, Vermont
- Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park, New Hampshire
- Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, OR & WA
TTAP Alumni Spotlight: Historic Infrastructure
I fell in love with welding! It was fun to realize that I’m good at something I hadn’t tried before. I’d encourage others to be open minded when applying. You may enjoy things you didn’t expect.”
Maddison Albertson TTAP Participant Fredericksburg, VA Winter 2024
Landscape Stewardship Corps
The Landscape Stewardship Corps focuses on preserving and maintaining historic and cultural landscapes through specialized training in landscape trades. Participants learn how to care for designed landscapes, historic gardens, and park grounds that are integral to understanding historic sites.
Training opportunities may include:
- Horticulture
- Arboriculture
- Landscape masonry
- Light carpentry
- Grounds and garden preservation
Placement Sites Include:
- Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site, Hawai‘i
- Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument, Mississippi
- Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic Sites, New York
- Longfellow House – Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site, Massachusetts
- Hampton National Historic Site, Maryland
- Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, Maryland
- Mount Rainier National Park, Washington
- Rock Creek Park, Washington, DC
- The White House and President’s Park, Washington, DC
- Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site, Massachusetts
- Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park, GA & TN
- Andersonville National Historic Site, Georgia
- Stones River National Battlefield, Tennessee
- Andrew Johnson National Historic Site, Tennessee
- Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio
- Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park, Vermont
- Fort Donelson National Battlefield, KY & TN
- Springfield Armory National Historic Site, Massachusetts
TTAP Alumni Spotlight: Landscape Stewardship Corps
This was my first introduction to working with the National Park Service…Seeing how the bells & whistles work… Lots of dedication and care goes into preserving those spaces historically and keeping the heritage and culture alive.
Nick Jackson TTAP Participant Hyde Park, NY Summer 2024
Water / Wastewater Management Program
The Water/Wastewater Management Program provides hands-on training in maintaining and operating essential park utility systems. Participants gain valuable technical skills while helping ensure visitor safety and environmental protection across park facilities.
Participants receive training in:
- Water and wastewater treatment processes
- System operations and maintenance
- Utility infrastructure management
- Environmental compliance and monitoring
Placement Sites Include:
- Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio
- Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
- Point Reyes National Seashore, California
- Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Michigan
- Ozark National Scenic Riverways, Missouri
- Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park, Virginia
- Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve, Alaska
- Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado
- Isle Royale National Park, Michigan
- Virgin Islands National Park, U.S. Virgin Islands
- Death Valley National Park, CA & NV
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park, NC & TN
- Katmai National Park & Preserve, Alaska
Start Your Preservation Career Journey
TTAP provides more than just a summer internship, it equips participants with real-world experience, industry exposure, and the foundational training necessary to pursue sustainable careers in preservation and infrastructure management. Whether you’re drawn to traditional building trades, landscape stewardship, or infrastructure management, TTAP provides the skills, mentorship, and experience to help you get started.
Explore available opportunities and apply today: https://historictrades.org/opportunities/tag/ttap/