A turbine brush seal protection device includes an annular substrate having an outer periphery and defining a slot open at the outer periphery. The slot is for receiving a portion of an annular brush seal of a gas turbine subassembly during installation of a gas turbine and such that the annular substrate at least partially covers the annular brush seal of the gas turbine subassembly. The annular substrate at the outer periphery and within the slot thereof is removably mounted to a stationary portion of the gas turbine subassembly. A turbine brush seal protection method includes the steps of providing the annular substrate, placing the annular substrate over a portion of an annular brush seal of a gas turbine subassembly such that the seal portion is inside the slot of the annular substrate during installation of a gas turbine and the annular substrate at least partially covers the annular brush seal of the gas turbine subassembly, mounting the annular substrate at the outer periphery and within the slot thereof to a stationary portion of the gas turbine subassembly, and removing the annular substrate from the stationary portion of the gas turbine subassembly before completion of installation of the gas turbine subassembly.