At an early age, we were taught and convinced that technology would be far advanced enough that we’d experience flying cars, self-sustained buildings, and robotic public services by the time we were adults. The thought of solely having flying cars lit my eyes wide open and allowed for something to look forward to. As I grew up, the fulfillment of flying cars diminished, but perhaps the self-sustained building aspect of technology was becoming a reality.

Pennsylvania has been home to many historical events during the U.S. history timeline. A wide range of events such as the U.S. Constitution being signed in Philadelphia, the Union victory at the Battle of Gettysburg, Three Mile plant explosion in Harrisburg. Whether good or bad, the events have been marked as historical and to this day they can still be seen standing.   

Historical preservation has been common throughout time by repairing existing buildings to make them last even longer. The buildings during those times were built a lot stronger with materials such as brick, stone, and concrete. The essence of architectural preservation is to maintain design elements and most importantly to keep the properties associated with the site location history alive for others to admire emotionally and visually. Gettysburg always intrigued me the most because of the significance of the events that spiraled and revolutionized our history. Perhaps not much may have survived once the battle was over, but the structures that survived became something greater than just a landmark, a story. Deterioration to the materials and structure is common, especially with the number of years that some of these buildings last for.

Many locations around Pennsylvania have the same preservation idea for homes, buildings, and sites. The most intriguing thing about these preservation projects is that they’re bound to become an attraction for the public. It’s only fitting to preserve these structures and provide something in return for generations that laid the foundation for what we get to enjoy nowadays.

by Francisco Perez