John Gentry

D. C. Preservation League

D. C. Preservation League is a non-profit advocacy organization that has worked to protect Washington’s historic resources for over forty years. Working closely with the District of Columbia Historic Preservation Office, the National Trust, and a host of other government and private sector entities, DCPL weighs in on a range of local preservation issues. Through walking tours, and other events, the organization engages in public education and outreach. DCPL also maintains a vocal media presence, utilizing print, radio, and online outlets. In addition, the organization regularly submits landmark nominations for significant and often threatened, local historic sites and structures.

The internship provided a great opportunity to learn about preservation advocacy while gaining professional experience. I participated in guiding monthly walking tours of historic neighborhoods and sites, and in community workshops such as the Historic House Toolbox event held at the Hill Center. Other projects involved specific research tasks, such as combing through area archives for historic photos of local properties. My main project was a National Register nomination that I drafted for the National Geographic Society’s headquarters building, which was designed by modernist architect Edward Durell Stone in 1961. In drafting the nomination, I drew on the research and documentation skills obtained through my HISP coursework, and expanded my thinking regarding architectural significance and the built environment, particularly I terms of preserving mid-century modern buildings.