The Historic Preservation Center logo.

Historic Preservation Center

Aramark Destinations launched a new Historic Preservation Center (HPC) in May 2025, centrally located to support renovation projects at Bryce Canyon, Grand Canyon North Rim, and other public lands. This 4,000-square-foot facility, equipped with state-of-the-art carpentry tools, serves as a hub to train carpenters, painters, masonry experts, and historians. 

 

The facility is dedicated to assessing, restoring, and replicating historic architectural elements from treasured sites, including National Park lodges, many of which are protected as National Historic Landmarks and represent some of the nation’s most historically significant public lands and lodging properties.

 

This is one way Aramark Destinations supports the National Park Service’s mission to preserve national resources and iconic public lands.

Historic Preservation Center Mission Statement

Our mission is to restore, preserve, and protect state and national resources that are historically and culturally significant. Using time-honored practices and specialized skills, our master carpenters painstakingly restore objects such as historic windows and banisters that feature exceptional craftsmanship from long ago and return them to their original state. The carpenters’ expertise ensures that public resources entrusted to our protection retain historical integrity and continue to delight visitors for decades to come.

Learn How the Historic Preservation Center Protects the Past

A worker using a construction tool on a block of wood in a workshop.
  • We bring history to life by restoring and preserving assets crucial to telling the complete American story.
  • Our work helps visitors appreciate the beauty of a simpler time, before mass production created cookie-cutter products.
  • Our master carpenters are true artisans whose skills preserve the original craftsmanship of carpenters who created everything by hand using basic tools.
  • HPC’s new, 4,000-square-foot workshop and state-of-the-art equipment support our carpenters.
  • We work closely with the National Park Service (NPS) to preserve and restore historic buildings, and our work meets historic preservation standards set by the NPS.
  • The Historic Preservation Center is owned and operated by Aramark Destinations.

Meet Richard Smith, Historic Preservation Project Manager

Richard is a master woodworker, carpenter, and accomplished mason with decades of experience. Currently, he holds the position of Historic Preservation Project Manager for the Historic Preservation Center near Bryce Canyon where he assesses and restores historical components, documents repairs, and produces AutoCAD drawings.

Richard has been praised for his work on historical sites such as the Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum, the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Dana Thomas House, and Grand Canyon South Rim. Previously, Richard served as a Project Manager at Siciliano Builders and owned Smith Wood Works, specializing in historical renovations and commercial woodwork. With over 25 years of experience in accounting, budgeting, and management, he has successfully completed million-dollar contracts and produced historically accurate woodwork for prominent sites. 

Headshot of Richard Smith.
A log cabin surrounded by trees.

Historic Preservation Across the Country

In addition to our work at HPC, Aramark Destinations is committed to supporting restoration and rehabilitation efforts at multiple parks and lodging locations nationwide. At Yosemite National Park, for example, current projects include renovations and updates to facilities such as The Ahwahnee hotel, employee housing, and kitchen facilities. At Zephyr Cove, Lake Tahoe, renovations are underway at Shelter Cove Café & Grill, and will offer visitors lakefront dining, while respecting the historic designation of the surrounding buildings.

Contact the Historic Preservation Center

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