Preservation is the act of maintaining a historic building in its current condition. It is not about making it look new. It is about slowing decay, preventing damage, and keeping the building's historic fabric intact for as long as possible. The goal is stability, not transformation.

Preservation work is often less visible than restoration. It includes routine maintenance, repointing mortar joints, repairing roofs, controlling moisture, and managing pests. The best preservation is preventive. A small repair today avoids a major intervention tomorrow.

The Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties guide much of the work in the United States. The standards emphasize minimal intervention, reversible treatments, and respect for the building's history. They are not legally binding in every case, but they shape how preservation projects are reviewed and funded.

Preservation is not just about old buildings. It is about memory, craft, and the character of a place. Tearing down a building loses more than materials. It loses the work of the people who built it and the life that happened inside.