Dear Preservation Supporter,

It’s not every day that you see someone show you the skeletons in the attic—literally. But it’s not every day that you get to join a live virtual tour of the attic of one of the grandest historic homes in the country, either.

Yet that’s exactly what I did on Friday, when I joined Trish Smith, curator of Historic Architectural Resources, on a tour of the attic of Drayton Hall, a National Trust Historic Site in Charleston, South Carolina. The engaging curator showed us everything from the home’s scribe rule framing—which she likened to assembling Ikea furniture—to the skeletal remains of creatures who’d found their way into the attic over the years.

Today is Day 12 of Virtual Preservation Month, which features 31 days of free online experiences for those who love historic places but can’t enjoy them in person right now. In fact, thousands of people have signed up to receive daily emails or texts alerting them to each experience as it’s unlocked.

Why don’t you join them? You can sign up here.

We’ve assembled a dynamic lineup of virtual events for you. Tomorrow, for example, you’ll be transported to the English-inspired gardens of Filoli, another National Trust Historic Site, to see the flowers in bloom this spring. Next week, you can join a live culinary history conversation focused on artichokes in the Salinas Valley at another National Trust site, Cooper Molera Adobe in Monterey, California. Towards the end of the month, you’ll be treated to a Q&A with actress and preservation champion Phylicia Rashad.

Virtual Preservation Month shows why historic places nourish the spirit and stir the imagination. Preservation gives us stunning architecture and beautiful landscapes. Preservation tells us stories of courage and resilience. And preservation saves the cultural heritage of the nation. All are desperately needed during this challenging period in our history.

I hope you’ll join me for the rest of Virtual Preservation Month. Please stay safe.

Sincerely,

Geoff Handy Chief Marketing Officer