Step Right Up to the Historic House!
by Debbie Waugh, Green Spring Historian
Historic House Steps before replacementIn 2025, the curb appeal of the c. 1784 Historic House was dramatically improved by the replacement of the almost century-old front steps. Not even the eye-catching plantings framing the entrance could divert attention from the unsightly cracks and weathering of the steps, caused by wear and tear from the elements and decades of heavy foot traffic.
So the Park Authority’s Heritage Conservation Branch collaborated with the National Parks Service (NPS) on the replacement project, with much of the work done by skilled craftspeople from the Historic Preservation Training Center (HPTC) of the NPS. Trained in historic restoration and preservation work, they perform rehabilitation and repair projects on historic structures of National Park sites as well as federal agencies and local governments, using, as stated on the HPTC website, “both modern technology and time-honored techniques.”
Historic House Steps WorkzoneThe project complied with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. In our case, the level of deterioration precluded repair, so this called for the complete replacement of the steps, using the same or a compatible substitute material. Luckily, the team was able to source the same type of original sandstone from a quarry in Colorado.
The wrought iron of the elegant front railings was also not immune to wear. The railings were removed to be cleaned, repaired, primed and painted, then reinstalled. 
Historic House Steps CompletedProviding both safety and style, they transform the new steps into an architectural focal point.
Now those beautiful surrounding plantings complement a dignified and welcoming front entrance. We hope that you enjoy our new and improved curb appeal and step up into the Historic House to see us in 2026.
Historic House photos by Debbie Waugh, Green Spring Historian.
