During the 18th and 19th centuries, it was common for rural farmers and ranchers to volunteer their time at a community barn raising. The practice allowed for neighbors to spend a day or two building a vital structure that would help ensure someone’s livelihood for years to come.
For the past two decades, a group of volunteers in Grand Teton National Park have engaged in what amounts to a series of modern-day barn raisings—aimed not at building new structures, but preserving historic ones for future generations.