STEPS Series | Stewardship of Historic Structures and Landscapes

This discussion is only for STEPS members. Not sure if your organization is enrolled in STEPS? Check here or email us at learn@aaslh.org. If you register and are not a STEPS member, we will contact you to let you know.

Join other STEPS members for a free presentation and discussion event on March 3 at 3 p.m. Eastern time. We'll hear about one site's experiences with the Stewardship of Historic Structures and Landscapes section and how your site can implement positive changes through STEPS, and chat with other STEPS members about how their work on this section is going. We'll have plenty of time for Q&A and discussion with other STEPS participants around the country.

Our speaker is Paul Wright, Director of Preservation and Maintenance at the House of the Seven Gables in Salem, Massachusetts, a 1688 colonial house museum campus with gardens, structures, and two acres of land designated as a National Historic Landmark District in 2007. Through the HSL section of STEPS, the museum developed a comprehensive preservation philosophy to guide care of the entire campus beyond just the house. They earned their Silver STEPS certificate in HSL in 2025.

While free, registration and STEPS enrollment are required to participate.

STEPS is AASLH’s self-study, self-paced assessment program designed specifically for small- to mid-sized history organizations, including volunteer-run institutions. Through a workbook, online resources, and an online community, the organizations enrolled in STEPS review their policies and practices and benchmark themselves against national museum standards, making a plan for achievable and meaningful improvement at their own pace.

STEPS's six sections offer comprehensive guidance for museums of all types and sizes and offer a graduated approach to correcting problematic policies and practices and creating new ones that align with modern museum standards. The six sections are:

• Mission, Vision, and Governance
• Audience and Community Engagement
• Interpretation
• Stewardship of Collections
• Stewardship of Historic Structures and Landscapes
• Management

Cancellation/Refunds for onsite workshops must be submitted in writing via email to learn@aaslh.org or mail to 2021 21st Ave S., Suite 320 Nashville, TN 37212. Cancellations made prior to the early-bird registration deadline date will receive a full refund. Cancellations made between the early-bird deadline date and eight days prior to the workshop will be subject to a $55 processing/materials charge. No refunds will be given within seven days of the workshop date. AASLH is not responsible for cancellations that were mailed or emailed but never received.

Cancellations/Refunds for online professional development (webinars and online courses) must be submitted in writing via email to learn@aaslh.org or mail to 2021 21st Ave S., Suite 320 Nashville, TN 37212. Cancellations made prior to the start date for the online course or the day of the webinar will be given a full refund. No refund will be given after the start date for the online course or on/after the day of the webinar. Registrants may transfer their registration to another person. Registrations cannot be transferred between courses or course sessions. AASLH is not responsible for cancellations that were mailed or emailed but never received.

If you have any questions, please contact AASLH Professional Development staff at learn@aaslh.org or 615-320-3203.