Heritage Conservation Network, a non profit that offers volunteer vacations at heritage sites, will be tweeting from its projects this summer, beginning with their project at the Speakers House in Trappe, Pennsylvania next week. You can follow their progress at www.twitter.com/handsonhistory.

HCN brings volunteers to four or five preservation projects a year. In the past few years, volunteers of all ages have replastered, repointed, repaired and rebuilt elements of historic buildings all over the world. In June, volunteers will be working with students from the Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and local community groups to restore shotgun houses and create affordable housing in Cairo, Illinois.

At the Speakers House, four young masons will be working with masonry restoration specialist Andy deGruchy to repair the fa￧ade of the building, which was home to the first and third Speaker of the House of Representatives, Frederick Muhlenberg. Mr. deGruchy is one of the many technical experts who lead HCNs workshops, teaching and guiding participants in their work. Learn more about The Speakers House at www.speakershouse.org and www.heritageconservation.net/ws-speakers-house.htm.

About HCN

Heritage Conservation Network is a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of architectural heritage around the world. HCNs workshops support community-based preservation projects and give volunteers the opportunity to give something back by helping to protect valuable cultural treasures. To learn more about HCNs international workshops, visit www.heritageconservation.net.