This course will examine preservation advocacy, using field trips and guest lecturers. Students will learn about methods for the application of historic preservation law and practice within the United States and its effects. Speakers and site visits will represent a range of constituencies from citizens leading grass-roots advocacy efforts to save buildings or neighborhoods to the work of local organizations, state and federal organizations. Field trips to local organizations will likely include the Preservation Resource Center, the Pitot House, Felicity Street Redevelopment, Small Center for Collaborative Design, the State Historic Preservation Office in Baton Rouge, and the annual conference of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
This course will also teach students the research skills needed for in-depth property examinations. Guest lecturers and trips to important archives will teach students to understand Sanborn maps, title chains and more.