Historic Preservation:

The act of keeping a historic property in its current condition, maintaining its original materials and features without adding new construction. 

Rehabilitation:
 

Making changes to a historic property so it can be used for a new purpose, while keeping the parts of the building that are important to its history. 

Restoration:
 

Bringing a property back to how it looked at a specific time in the past by removing later changes and rebuilding missing parts from that period.

Reconstruction:
 

Rebuilding a property or feature that no longer exists to look like it did at a particular time, usually for educational or interpretive purposes.

Significance:
 

The importance of a property based on its history, culture, or design, which makes it valuable enough to preserve.

Integrity:
 

How much of the original materials, design, and features of a property remain intact, showing its historical importance. 

Historic Fabric:
 

The original materials and features (like walls, windows, and roofs) that make a property historically important. 

Period of Significance:

The specific time in a property’s history when it was most important, used to guide restoration work. 

National Register of Historic Places:

A list of places recognized for their historical, cultural, or architectural value that are eligible for preservation.

Adaptive Reuse:
 

Finding a new use for an old building while keeping its historical character intact.