Secretary of the Interior's Standards

The Secretary of the Interior's Standards are guidelines designed to help preserve and protect historic properties and sites in the United States. They provide a framework for evaluating preservation practices, ensuring that renovations and restorations maintain the historical and architectural integrity of a building or site. These standards encourage respectful treatment of historic materials while allowing for modernization when necessary. They are used by architects, planners, and preservationists to promote consistent and thoughtful approaches to conserving America’s historical and cultural heritage.