Transforming the world through 60 years of historic preservation education.

Heritage must evolve in order to survive. Working with other disciplines and engaging stakeholders, historic preservation specialists manage change in the physical environment. The University of Florida recognizes the dynamic and multifaceted nature of the field of historic preservation and helps prepare the next generation of change agents. This mission is met through forward-thinking, multidisciplinary coursework, applied learning and partnerships with experts, public agencies and private organizations across the United States and globally.

Preparing future leaders to manage the change necessary to preserve a diverse range of historic communities and heritage resources.

Three core focus areas inform the academics, research, and collaborations of the Historic Preservation Program:

RESILIENT COMMUNITIES
Developing strategies for adapting or mitigating the loss of historic sites and places endangered by sea-level rise, conflict and other threats.

RECENT PAST
Exploring the diverse heritage resources of the 20th century and finding solutions for sustaining them.

INCLUSIVE HERITAGE
Partnering with stakeholders of under-represented communities and heritage resources to better share their stories of progress and change.

  • Engaging communities and their values
  • Managing change in heritage environments
  • Identifying and expanding heritage resources
  • Harnessing emerging and digital technologies

Graduates of the University of Florida Historic Preservation Program are critical thinkers able to develop multi-faceted initiatives and programs that focus on community engagement and technical solutions for addressing threats to historic communities and their heritage resources.

Historic Preservation studies began at the University of Florida in 1957 with the arrival of Turpin Chambers Bannister. Bannister was the first President of the Society for Architectural Historians and served as Dean of the College of Architecture and Fine Arts until 1965. Dean Bannister encouraged Architecture Professor F. Blair Reeves to focus his research and teaching on historic preservation and the documentation of historic resources through the National Park Service’s Historic American Building Survey. Professor Reeves served as an advisor to the National Trust for Historic Preservation and helped create the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation. In 1972, Reeves worked with entrepreneur and visionary Walter Beinecke, Jr. to launch the Preservation Institute Nantucket (PIN) – a summer program that provides students hands-on training in conserving heritage resources. Directors of PIN have included Susan Tate (Department of Interior Design) and Peter Prugh (School of Architecture), among others. Professor Reeves also worked with fellow Professor Herschel Shepard and faculty from the College’s different units to create the Research and Education Center for Architectural Preservation (RECAP), which is now the Center for World Heritage Research and Stewardship. Roy Eugene Graham, former architect of Colonial Williamsburg became the first Director of the Historic Preservation Program in 2005. Roy oversaw the creation of the Master of Historic Preservation ( formerly a Master of Science in Architectural Studies with an emphasis in Historic Preservation). In addition to the graduate degree, students can also receive a PhD with a Concentration in Historic Preservation or a Certificate. Cleary Larkin has led the Historic Preservation Program since July 1, 2021.

Contact Us

Mailing Address:
University of Florida
College of Design, Construction and Planning
Attn: Cleary Larkin
P.O. Box 115701
Gainesville, FL 32611-5701
Phone: (352) 294-3377

Visit the Historic Preservation Program

If you are interested in scheduling a visit, please email Clarissa Carr at clcarrdi@ufl.edu.

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