Conservation Corps help preserve America’s stories
As the nation commemorates America’s 250th anniversary, communities across the country are reflecting on the people, places, and events that have shaped our history. Service and Conservation Corps are helping to ensure that this history remains visible and accessible by caring for important landscapes and structures and preparing the next generation that will continue to shape America.
To wrap up America 250 celebrations, revisit four Corps historic preservation project stories that showcase service in action. The following projects demonstrate how Corpsmembers are carrying forward a tradition of service that dates back to the Civilian Conservation Corps.
Honoring Sacrifice at Andersonville National Historic Site
At Andersonville National Historic Site in Georgia, American Conservation Experience crews helped care for a former Civil War prison camp and active national cemetery. Corpsmembers supported historic preservation, interpretation, grounds maintenance, and preparations for veterans’ burials. Living and working at the site gave them a deeper understanding of its history and the importance of preserving sacred places.
Restoring Stones River National Battlefield and Cemetery
Student Conservation Association members spent two months preserving Stones River National Battlefield and Cemetery in Tennessee. The crew cleaned approximately 800 veterans’ headstones, improved the walkway around the Hazen Brigade Monument, repaired fencing, removed invasive plants, and cleared trash. Through hands-on training and conversations with National Park Service staff, Corpsmembers also explored careers in historic preservation and public lands.
Continuing CCC’s Legacy at Carlsbad Caverns National Park
More than 80 years after Civilian Conservation Corps members built stonework at Carlsbad Caverns National Park, a Conservation Corps New Mexico crew helped preserve that legacy. Guided by a retired master mason, the crew rebuilt more than 600 feet of historic stone guardrail and received valuable training in a specialized trade. Corpsmembers ultimately completed twice as much work as projected while helping the park address its maintenance backlog.
Rebuilding at Abraham Lincoln’s Birthplace
At Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park in Kentucky, an American Conservation Experience crew replaced 2,000 linear feet of deteriorated split-rail fencing. The project restored the park’s historic landscape while teaching Corpsmembers carpentry, tool use, construction, risk management, and teamwork. Park staff also discussed National Park Service career pathways with the crew.
