Preserving Our Past for the Future

Welcome to the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training (NCPTT)! We are a research and education center dedicated to advancing the field of historic preservation through the use of science and technology.

Located on the campus of Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana, NCPTT is part of the National Park Service's National Center for Cultural Resources. Our mission is to preserve cultural resources through the use of science and technology, and we work with a variety of partners, including government agencies, academic institutions, and non-profit organizations, to develop and implement preservation technologies and techniques.

At NCPTT, we conduct research, develop and disseminate technical information, and provide training and education on preservation technologies and techniques. Our research and educational programs focus on a wide range of topics, including materials conservation, architectural conservation, archeology, and cultural landscapes.

In addition to our research and educational programs, we also administer the Preservation Technology and Training Grants program, which provides funding for projects that advance the use of science and technology in the preservation of cultural resources.

Hybrid plastics researcher, Bruce Fu, applies a stone strengthener to a historic marble grave marker
Grants Open Now

Through February 5, 2024, direct and competitive grants to promote research and training opportunities in preservation technology.

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Online Resources

The National Center delivers the latest materials about preservation science to professional audiences and the public.

Lee H. Nelson Hall
Programs

NCPTT conducts research and collaborates with partners on projects in several overlapping disciplinary areas.

A group of interns stand in front of the NCPTT sign
About

Find out how NCPTT advances the application of science and technology to historic preservation

A group monitors the progress of equipment that scans the landscape
What We Do

Dedicated to preservation through the application of technology

Last updated: January 12, 2024