Eric Newcombe (Oregon State Historic Preservation Office, 2019)

This summer I was a summer staff intern with the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office in Salem, OR. Through this incredible opportunity I was able to gain experience with multiple different aspects of historic preservation including the preserving the built environment, archaeology, technical preservation, community outreach, grant programs and the Main Street program. I traveled around the state to different communities and towns to learn about how Oregon utilizes their historic resources for tourism, community benefit and the preservation of their identity. I was able to work on and complete a survey of a coastal town and present my findings to their city council, contribute to a nomination to the National Register of Historic Places and write a case study for why heritage tourism works for the city of Astoria, OR. This was an invaluable opportunity and the experience that I gained will change not only my career, but my life for the better.