2023 Pacific Northwest Preservation Field School

The 2023 Pacific Northwest Preservation Field School was held at Fort Stevens State Park near Astoria, Oregon, at the entrance to the Columbia River. The Field School is no longer accepting applications for the 2023 Sessions. We hope to see you next year!

Located on the sandy shoreline and dunes south of the entrance to the Columbia River, the fort was commissioned by Abraham Lincoln in 1863 to protect against British invasion during the Civil War. It was repeatedly expanded and upgraded during the Spanish American War, and World Wars I and II forming part of a larger string of coastal defenses. Surviving concrete gun batteries, earthworks, and support buildings concentrated around the historic camp core are open to the public and for guided tours. Today, the 4,300 acre park features one of the nation’s largest campgrounds and a range of other historic and recreation amenities including a trails, bike rentals, kayak tours, and a historic shipwreck.

The Field School addressed the complex issues related to the preservation of important military structures and landscapes from multiple eras. Work concentrated on the 1911 brick Guardhouse that met the fort’s security and policing needs; Battery Russell, a concrete gun emplacement dating to 1904; and Fire Control Hill, a collection of concrete spotting structures where soldiers targeted enemy vessels and coordinated fire commands. While the subject sites are distinctive, the strategies and techniques related to their preservation carry across to other historic facilities. Projects included brick masonry repair and repointing, window assessment, repair, and reglazing, and concrete assessment and conservation. Historic landscape survey and maintenance workshops, interpretation workshops, field trips, and evening presentations filled out the three one-week sessions. Participants were lodged in double-occupancy yurts and dining facilities were provided onsite.

The Field School is an inclusive learning opportunity open to all, whether or not you have previous preservation experience, whatever your age. You do not need to be a student or affiliated with the University of Oregon.

Sessions

Session 1
August 27 – September 1
Preservation Primer

Session 2
September 5 – September 8
Preservation Focus: Maintenance and Landscapes

Session 3
September 10–15
Preservation Focus: Concrete

Tuition and Credits

Tuition includes all training sessions, evening presentations, field trip, meals, and lodging. For an additional fee, Field School participants can earn two graduate or undergraduate level credits from the University of Oregon Continuing and Professional Education for each repeatable one-week session. Grading is on a pass/no pass basis.

Sessions 1 and 3