2013 Arizona Historic Preservation Conference comes to Mesa, June 12-14, 2013

SCOTTSDALE, AZ, May 15, 2013 (Press-News.org) The 11th Annual Arizona Historic Preservation Conference will take place in Mesa, June 12-14, 2013, emphasizing the theme "Making Preservation Relevant: The Past in Future Tense."

This annual conference, taking place at the Hilton Phoenix East/Mesa, will draw hundreds from around the country and abroad to explore various aspects of historic preservation that include archaeology, architecture, urban planning, rural economic development, sustainability, sense of place, cultural resource management, commercial and residential structure preservation and rehabilitation, archival research, historic photography, commercial archaeology, cultural tourism, project management, funding sources, and legislation updates. The speaker line-up consists of scholars, consultants, architects, archaeologists, city planners, authors, government officials, legislators, and historians.

The planning partners offer field study sessions to such historic sites as the Buckhorn Baths, the Sunkist Building, Hayden Flour Mill, Mesa's Historic Commercial District, and an evening session highlighting the neon signage preservation efforts of Mesa. AIA continuing education units are available for some of the field study sessions for registered architects. In addition, a free-to-the-public Historic Homeowner's Expo will take place on Saturday, June 15, 2013, 9:00am - 1:00pm at the Hilton Phoenix East/Mesa where homeowners may find exhibitors and vendors of products and services directly related to the preservation of historic homes.

The conference will also gather Tribal representatives from around the Southwest to participate in a Traditional Cultural Places Workshop. The purpose of the workshop is to better preserve and protect Traditional Cultural Places today and for future generations through the promotion of mutual respect and understanding. It is intended to define and discuss issues related to the identification, evaluation, and protection of these special places. Leadership representatives from the National Register of Historic Places will be present to address the current status of the National Register's Bulletin 38 that addresses management of historic and sacred sites. This workshop will take place Wednesday and Thursday, June 12 and 13, 2013 at the same conference hotel. The workshop is supported by the generosity of NextEra Energy Resources, the Arizona State Museum, and the El Paso Natural Gas Company (a Kinder Morgan Company).

The annual Arizona Historic Preservation Conference is developed and orchestrated jointly by Arizona State Parks, the (AZ) State Historic Preservation Office, the National Park Service, the Arizona Preservation Foundation, the Arizona Historical Society, and the Arizona Archaeological Council. The host city partner for 2013 is Mesa, Arizona. The full conference agenda may be found at https://azpreservation.com/resources/agenda.html.

The conference actively seeks sponsors and financial partners who have a vested interest in the historic preservation movement and industry. For sponsorship and partnership, or general information, please contact questions@azpreservation.com. Conference registration information is currently available online at http://www.azpreservation.com.