HARPER FERRY, WV, April 17, 2025 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Peter Frederick Dessauer has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Mr. Dessauer is a distinguished historical architect with the National Park Service, where he has dedicated his career to preserving the United States' rich historical heritage. Since 1977, he has been instrumental in maintaining and restoring significant sites, including his current work at Harper's Ferry National Historical Park. The park, which spans 3,700 acres and hosts 500,000 visitors each year, is a testament to his expertise in building preservation and restoration. His role involves meticulous planning and collaboration with team members to ensure the historic structures are preserved for future generations.

Mr. Dessauer began his career with the Bureau of Land Management in Alaska in 1977 before transitioning to the National Park Service in Denver, Colorado in 1978. His extensive experience in maintenance and restoration includes notable projects such as the renovation of Faneuil Hall and the Old State House in Boston. His work on Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty and Castle Clinton during the 1980s garnered global attention and underscored his dedication to enhancing America's historical sites.

A fully licensed architect in Colorado, Mr. Dessauer has marked his professional journey with memberships in esteemed organizations. These include the American Institute of Architects, the Association for Preservation Technology, the Society for Architectural Historians, Docomomo, the Frank Lloyd Wright Conservancy, the International Council on Monuments & Sites (ICOMOS), the Decorative Arts Trust (DAT) and the International National Trust Organization (INTO).

A life member of the Royal Oak Foundation, which is the American Chapter of the National Trust of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, Mr. Dessauer is a major donor to the American Battlefield Trust and Shenandoah Valley Battlefield Trust. He engages in international conferences centered around global, cultural and natural conservation. In December 2024, he was a delegate at the INTO Conference in Amman, Jordan, where 40 countries were represented. There, delegates discussed their common goal of preserving World Heritage properties under the pressures of climate change.

Mr. Dessauer's work has been recognized with multiple accolades, including the Presidential Design Award for his contributions to Ellis Island's renovation and reconstruction in 1990. Additionally, he was featured in Traditional Building Magazine in October 2024 for his nearly 50 years of dedication to preservation projects.

Mr. Dessauer's academic background laid a strong foundation for his storied career. He earned a bachelor's degree in liberal arts from Tufts University in 1971, a Master of Architecture from the University of Florida in 1977 and pursued postgraduate architectural studies at Clemson University between 1973 and 1975. In 1970, he spent a semester in Florence, Italy, where he was inspired by the country's historic architecture and dedication to maintaining its cultural heritage. His decision to dedicate his career to historic preservation was inspired during the summer of 1974, which he spent at the Preservation Institute: Nantucket. Additional experiences at the Historic American Building Survey (HABS), the Victorian Society School in London and the Château de Chavaniac Lafayette in Auvergne, France, further influenced his goal of safeguarding as much of the United States' heritage as possible for the benefit of future generations.

Mr. Dessauer has participated in several archeological excavations. In 1971, he was awarded a Ford Foundation Grant to join Tufts, Wesleyan and Brown Universities on archaeological excursions to the Certosa di San Lorenzo di Padula and Roman villa sites in the Vallo di Diano, Italy. During the summers of 1982 and 1983, he joined the Colorado and Maryland University teams in conducting underwater archaeological research at the ancient port of Caesarea, Isreal.

Beyond his professional endeavors, Mr. Dessauer is civically engaged through monetary donations to various veteran organizations and animal rights groups. He has also contributed to published works such as "An Early Look at the American Dream, Historic Harper's Ferry" for The World and I Magazine and Cultural Resource Protection Magazine, showcasing his ability to preserve and share information through different mediums.

Born in 1949 in Schenectady, New York, Mr. Dessauer grew up in the historic town of Aiken, South Carolina, where he attended the Aiken Prep School and Saint Angel Academy. He attended high school at Deerfield Academy in Massachusetts and derived inspiration from the school's motto, "Be Worthy of Your Heritage."

Looking back on his success, Mr. Dessauer is especially grateful to his parents, Dr. Gerhard and Margorie Dessauer, for placing a high value on education and shaping his professional path. He also credits multiple mentors who helped define his identity and values, including Professor Blair Reeves at the University of Florida and Professors Harold Norman Coolidge and Vernon Hodges at Clemson University, both of whom taught architectural history. Looking ahead, he hopes that future commemorations will honor America's achievements as a bastion of democracy and personal freedoms.

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