The fourth annual Arizona Statewide Historic Preservation Conference will be held at the Glendale Civic Center, 5750 West Glenn Dr., June 15-17, 2006. The conference brings together experts and practitioners in the diverse specialties that contribute to preservation – architecture and cultural landscapes, archaeology, downtown revitalization, historic sites and heritage tourism, heritage education, neighborhood revitalization and housing, smart growth and regional planning, organizational management, public policy, and real estate development.“This year marks the 100th anniversary of the passage of the Antiquities Act, the 100th anniversary of Montezuma Castle National Monument, and the 40th anniversary of the National Historic Preservation Act. Preservation advocates have much to celebrate at this year’s conference, but much more work must be done to protect Arizona’s heritage in this time of frenzied growth,” said Jim McPherson, board president of the Arizona Preservation Foundation.
This year’s six tracks and 36 sessions play off the conference’s theme of “Changing Places:” Urban Places, Small Town & Rural Places, Ancient Places (archaeology), Native American Places, Parks & Heritage Places, and Protecting Places. Tours of Manistee Ranch, Sahuaro Ranch, Historic Downtown Glendale, and Catlin Court Historic District are scheduled. Nationally-recognized guest speakers are: Charles Bowden, author of 11 books, contributing editor of Esquire, and writer for other magazines such as Harper's and The New York Times Book Review; Brian Fagan, noted teacher, writer, and lecturer about American and general archaeology; Anthea Hartig, Director of the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Western Office in San Francisco; Heather MacIntosh, President of Preservation Action in Washington, D.C.; and Ann Pritzlaff, Presidential appointee to the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation in Washington, D.C.
The 24th Annual Governor’s Heritage Preservation Honor Awards luncheon and ceremony will be held on Friday, June 16. These awards recognize people, organizations, and projects that represent outstanding achievements in preserving Arizona's prehistoric and historic resources. The ten award winners are introduced and the Grand Award winner will be publicly announced at the June 16 luncheon.
New this year is the Home & Heritage Fair on Saturday, June 17. Organized similar to other home and garden shows, this one-day event is geared specifically to historic property owners and neighborhood advocates. Along with home improvement vendors, workshops, and demonstrations booths, guest speakers will offer advice on: How to Research Your Historic Home and Neighborhood; Researching Historic Neighborhoods: A Case Study; Rehabilitation for Beginners; Remodeling Your Historic Home: A Case Study; How to Buy and Sell Historic Homes; Who’s Who in Preservation; Advocating for Preservation; and Taking Your Board from Good to Great.
Conference organizers include: Arizona Archaeological Council, Arizona Department of Commerce, Arizona Historical Society, Arizona Preservation Foundation, Arizona State Museum, Arizona State Parks, City of Glendale, Glendale Historical Society, Glendale Visitors Center, Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, National Park Service, National Trust for Historic Preservation, Preservation Action, and University of Arizona College of Architecture. Previous conferences have been held in Chandler, Tempe, and Tucson. In 2007, the conference will be held in Prescott. Click here for more information and to register for one or all of the conference activities.
