Make plans to network, learn new skills and enjoy the sights and sounds of Houston by attending the Texas Historical Commission’s (THC) 2010 Annual Historic Preservation Conference, sponsored in association with Preservation Texas. April 2 is the early registration deadline for the conference held at the Westin Oaks Houston, April 22–24.
This year’s conference will include four concurrent session tracks — Resource Fundamentals, Resource Development, Preservation Advocacy and Public Engagement. There is one featured Professional Content opportunity — Section 106 Workshop for Professionals. Highlighted sessions include Caring for Monuments and Markers in Your Community, Unmasking Main Streets: A Look at Slipcovered Buildings in Houston and A New Way to Get There — Connecting Cyclists with History. This year’s keynote speaker is American West historian and biographer Michael Wallis, whose notable works include Route 66: The Mother Road, Billy the Kid: The Endless Ride and The Lincoln Highway: Coast to Coast from Times Square to the Golden Gate.
Tours occurring both before and after the conference will highlight the heritage of Houston including art deco architectural gems, the significance of Houston’s mid-century modern structures, the San Jacinto Battle reenactment and museum tour, and a genealogical exploration of the Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research.
The conference will also feature events honoring recipients of the T.R. Fehrenbach Book Award and the THC’s two most prestigious awards, the Ruth Lester Lifetime Achievement Award and the Curtis D. Tunnell Lifetime Achievement Award in Archeology. The conference marketplace features commercial and nonprofit vendors with products and services beneficial to the preservation community.
The conference brochure will be available at www.thc.state.tx.us in February. New this year is online registration.
