Preservation Week 2025-May 16 – 18
The signature event of the Newburyport Preservation Trust is the week-long Newburyport Preservation Week every spring, featuring lectures, architectural tours, social events, and the annual Preservation Awards presentation. In winter, the Newburyport Preservation Trust offers seminars on topics of preservation interest. Make sure to register for the events!
The theme this year is Old Houses, New Stories. A select group of authors will share their stories and sign copies of their books. The weekend kicks off with Lee McColgan, a preservation carpenter who chronicled the restoration of his 1702 house in his book A House Restored. Lee will talk about his trials, tribulations, and Newburyport connections at the keynote address on Friday, May 16 at 6PM at the Newburyport Senior Center. Sponsored by the Institution for Savings.
On Saturday, May 17 Stacy Grinsfelder, co-author of The Case for Historic Windows and host of the popular podcast True Tales From Old Houses, shares compelling, data-driven evidence for preserving and upgrading original wood windows. The presentation will cover the comparative lifespan of historic and replacement windows, the environmental and economic impact of manufacturing and installing modern windows, and strategies for improving energy efficiency of older windows without compromising their integrity. Sponsored by Window Woman of New England.
Also on Saturday, author and architectural historian Scott T. Hanson, has an enlightening presentation on historic preservation and sustainability. As often quoted by former National Trust for Historic Preservation president Richard Moe’s -The Greenest Building is the One that Already Exists.” Scott will have copies of his comprehensive guide Restoring Your Historic House available for signing and purchase. Sponsored by Amesbury Industrial Supply.
Once again the weekend will feature a bicycle tour of the architectural wonders of Newburyport. The Powder House will be open for tours. The weekend concludes with a gala celebration and Preservation Awards. Sponsored by St Jean’s Credit Union.
Visit and tour the inside of Newburyport’s 1822 Powder House. Built in the turbulent aftermath of the War of 1812,the Powder House stored gunpowder, flints, musket balls, and camp kettles used by the local militia to defend the community. In 2003 it was restored inside and out. Come see this unique historic building. Sponsored by St Jean’s Credit Union.
The weekend concludes with a gala celebration and Preservation Awards. The annual presentation of awards for local preservation efforts given out by the Newburyport Preservation Trust. Categories include Adaptive Reuse and New Building Compatibility, Historic Landscape Restoration, Interior Restoration, Exterior Restoration, Historic Preservation Craftsmanship, and Preservation Advocacy.
These events are open to the public and free to all members of the Newburyport Preservation Trust so please join today. Space is limited so go to the Preservation Week 2025 page and register to attend these activities.
About the Newburyport Preservation Trust
The Newburyport Preservation Trust (NPT) is a non-profit membership organization that brings together people from Newburyport and beyond who value the preservation of the city’s period architecture, neighborhood ambience, heritage landscapes, and authentic historic character.
NPT educates, informs, and advocates through its programs, projects, publications, and presence. When you join NPT, you’ll be among advocates for Newburyport’s unique sense of place, its economic vitality, and environmental sustainability. “The greenest building is one that is already built.” — Carl Elefante, AIA.
Newburyport Architecture & History
Through a combination of circumstance and vision, Newburyport has come to be known for its rich stock of early American domestic architecture in First Period, Georgian, Federal, and Greek Revival styles. Also found in Newburyport’s National Register Historic District are 19th- and early 20th-century styles, from 1850s mill-worker homes, to ornate 1880s Victorians, to 1920s four-squares.
How did Newburyport get this way? On the History and Architecture page you’ll learn how a handful of 1960-70s visionaries diverted the wrecking ball in favor of preservation, sparking a renaissance that lifted the city out of decades of economic stagnation. You’ll also find a guide to architectural styles, photo galleries in PDF format, links to historic maps, a local history bibliography with links to full texts, and the must-see video documentary about Newburyport’s restoration, A Measure of Change (1975).
Preservation Advocacy
A major component of NPT’s mission is preservation advocacy. As champions of the the economic, aesthetic, cultural, and environmental benefits of preservation, NPT consults with homeowners and developers, and participates in preservation-related hearings before city boards. The aim is to slow down the rate at which the city’s remaining authenticity is whittled away in a “death by a thousand dumpsters.”
On the Preservation Advocacy page you’ll also learn about 21st-century preservation history in Newburyport, and how the city’s pro-preservation zoning laws were unanimously adopted in 2014. For “calls to action” about immediate preservation issues, visiting the Newburyport Preservation Trust on Facebook:
Historic House Plaque Program
NPT’s Historic House Plaque Program provides owners of historic homes in Newburyport with the opportunity to showcase their dedicated stewardship with a plaque validated by the Newburyport Preservation Trust that indicates the original owner, their occupation, and date. Central to the program, and of particular historical value, is the verification of dates, names, and facts by experienced researchers. See complete information at the Historic House Plaque Program page, including photos of selected homes in the program, a map of NPT plaques in place, and an application form for your own NPT Historic House Plaque.
Preservation
Resources
The Preservation Resources page is your portal to preservation-related knowledge, from the theoretical to the practical. You’ll find links to preservation organizations; museum & history organizations; preservation publications & databases; video resources; books on architecture, craftsmanship, & preservation; preservation-related blogs; … and NPT’s own Historic House Buyer’s Guide.
Events &
Projects
At the Events & Projects page you’ll learn about NPT’s signature event, the week-long Newburyport Preservation Week every spring, featuring illustrated lectures, tours, social events, and the annual preservation awards presentation. You’ll also learn about lectures, seminars, and programs on preservation-related topics as they are announced.
Blog &
News Archive
For comprehensive understanding of NPT’s efforts to preserve Newburyport’s varied architectural assets and singular ambience, the Blog & News Archive page hosts the archive of the NPT Quarterly News from 2013 to the present. For information on the most immediate preservation issues, visit the Newburyport Preservation Trust on Facebook:
Powder House Park &
Learning Center
Powder House Park & Learning Center opened in 2012 after nine years of planning, research, and restoration. In 2013 NPT’s efforts to preserve the long-neglected 1822 Powder House were recognized nationally with an Award of Merit from the American Association for State & Local History (AASLH). On the Powder House page you’ll learn about the restoration, the seasonal schedule, tours offered during special events, and how to secure a spring or fall date for a school group visit.