Preservation Periodical: Volume 5, Issue 1
Winter 2026
Fostering a Culture of Artifact Appreciation
By Mary Seng, Project Manager, Historic Preservation Manager for the SI Castle Project, The Christman Company
As work takes place on a historic site, previously enclosed areas are opened or uncovered, and interesting artifacts are sometimes discovered.
As a contractor with particular interest and experience in historic preservation, The Christman Company always takes measures to foster a culture of appreciation and enthusiasm for historic finds. Christman is the contractor currently working on the revitalization of the Smithsonian Institution Building (Castle) project. The Smithsonian invited Christman to feature its artifact salvage program in the Preservation Periodical to share its success.
Our “Don’t Pocket the Past” message is presented in English and Spanish on jobsite posters. The subject is also covered in an orientation video which all workers must attend before working on a project.
Christman discusses the history and significance of the building and explains how all the material and all the stories help support that history and our connection to it.
Christman makes sure that all workers understand the importance of notifying us whenever an artifact is discovered whether it seems like a precious piece of history or even when the item may not seem old or historically significant.
Any piece that is lost potentially makes the history and our connection to it less – so when somebody does uncover something it is cause for celebration and acknowledgement.
On the current project at the Castle, Christman has developed a new initiative which has become popular with our subcontractors.
Anytime a worker finds an item and turns it in, they are publicly acknowledged and presented with a Christman Historic Preservation pennant sticker for their hard hat.
Christman holds weekly all-crew meetings (stand-downs), where information is presented regarding safety and other work-related topics. We have used this gathering and a couple of its subcontractor team meetings to explain the purpose of the artifact program and get the message out to the tradespeople.
Christman emphasizes that any item regardless of apparent age or significance can and should be turned in.
We also address issues like:
- Why should the items be saved?
- What is an artifact?
- Who decides it is an item worth keeping?
Sometimes the uncovered element is actually an architectural or cultural feature rather than an item that can be picked up.
Here at the Castle for example, a few discoveries have been made in the process of the selective removal work.
A map mounted to the wall was uncovered when a stud wall was removed. Archival research uncovered that the map was installed after 1955.
On another occasion an imprint of shoes along with the word, "FEET" was discovered in the concrete subfloor fill. It may not be clear in the photo, but above the shoes, it says, "Tiny's" and the date 2-23-51. The Smithsonian has documented this finding.
When a potential artifact is turned into Christman, it is fully documented in a log, tracking a description of the item, who found it, what work was occurring that led to the discovery, and where it was found.
Then Christman notifies the Smithsonian’s Office of Architectural History and Historic Preservation, who evaluates whether the item should be saved and turned over to SI. Salvaged objects will be featured in a future exhibit about the Castle construction project.
A few examples of items reported to the Smithsonian to date include:
When the Historic Preservation Stickers are awarded to folks, we thank them and take recognition photos to post on the jobsite.
It's a small thing, however there's been a really favorable response and a sense of pride ensuring quality of work and care across many tradespeople supporting this project.
