Why Get Your Kicks in Tulsa?

Tulsa has a wealth of historic resources and preservation successes and challenges to learn from. We could think of no better location from which to explore such a diverse variety of people, histories and experiences.

Why the National Preservation Conference?

Are you dedicated to protecting historic resources in your community? Do you want to strengthen your professional network, meet new partners in the fight for preservation, and rekindle old friendships? Come to Tulsa, then return home with newfound energy, rededicated to your mission, knowing you have strong allies in the battle to save our heritage.

Every year attendees tell us that meeting with colleagues and networking with new contacts makes the conference a "can't-miss" annual event. Come meet the nation's leaders in preservation advocacy, evolving technology, community development, commercial revitalization, preservation-minded real estate development, historic sites, cultural landscapes, heritage education, and more.

If you attend the National Preservation Conference each year, look for special sessions that build and expand on hot topics from previous conferences. If this is your first year, you'll take away an informed perspective on critical issues-information to use immediately back home. Look for special focus areas on Route 66, preserving modern and mid-century architecture, applying sustainable and green building standards to historic buildings, a fresh look at teardowns, heritage education, historic sites, and cultural diversity.

Evaluate New Initiatives and Learn MORE

Learn about the latest trends in protecting the irreplaceable and cutting-edge practices put to the test in real-life situations. Rural, urban and suburban, the conference addresses issues that affect all types of older and historic communities and historic sites.

Discover multiple education formats that examine in depth the hot issues of the day - interactive education sessions, one-on-one poster presentations, tours, and informal gatherings. Hundreds of experts are gathered in one city at one time ready to share their knowledge with you.

Invest in Yourself
Advance your career through the conference. Become more valuable to your organization - every day you participate, you will discover new resources and tools to be more effective.

Earn credit

The National Trust for Historic Preservation is registered with the American Institute of Architects Continuing Education System (AIA/CES) and is committed to developing quality learning activities in accordance with the AIA/CES Health, Safety, Welfare (HSW) learning unit guidelines.

What's New in 2008?

Extended Exhibit Hall Hours
In the post-conference survey last year, respondents asked for more hours to visit with exhibitors. The new Exhibit Hall hours are Wednesday, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., and Thursday and Friday 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Nosh & Network
Once a day on Wednesday, and twice on Thursday and Friday, join your colleagues for a refreshment break in the Exhibit Hall - Nosh & Network! A new education session schedule allows for time both morning and afternoon for a coffee break and a chance to visit with exhibitors, browse the bookstore, and check out the Poster presentations.

More Education Sessions
You asked, we delivered. We've added more time for more sessions (without making the conference longer). An additional block of sessions on Saturday has allowed us to offer more programming at a higher education level. Be challenged and inspired like never before.

Get on the (Dinner) Bus
Let us do the driving. On Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday evenings, we will provide transportation to three popular restaurant neighborhoods - Cherry Street, Brookside, and Utica Square. Many restaurants will offer specials for conference attendees, so bring your badge, hop on the bus, and get a taste of Tulsa.

Candlelight House Tour and Dinner
The Candlelight House Tour is back, and this year we will begin the evening with food and beverage to keep you going through your tour of historic Maple Ridge.

Friday Night at the Movies: Preservation Cinema
Preservation and movies go hand in hand. Join us on Friday evening for movies and popcorn and visit a preservation "win" - with an excellent story - at the Circle Cinema in Tulsa.

Bring a Guest and Share the Fun
We've added a guest registration option for only $15, so that you can bring your partner, your kids, or even your Mom to enjoy the Exhibit Hall, the opening and closing plenary sessions, and the special lectures. When you add the guest badge, you can also purchase tickets for your guests to attend field sessions and the opening reception at Philbrook Museum. See page 39 for more information.

Back by Popular Demand!

All Education Sessions, Poster Sessions, the Exhibit Hall, Info Sessions, the Bookstore and Registration will be under one roof at the Tulsa Convention Center.
Wonderfully walkable downtown Tulsa's Convention Center is centrally located within a few blocks of all the conference hotels, and will serve as the site for all conference activities, including Field Session departures.

More POSTER PRESENTATIONS....
Last year in the Twin Cities, Poster Sessions were a popular new presentation format, and this year we have even more. Come to the Exhibit Hall and browse the Posters - visual presentations on projects and subjects in all aspects of preservation. Meet with the presenters and chat one-on-one about how they made their project work, and get ideas on how to apply their successes to your circumstances.

Demonstrations (and more) in the Exhibit Hall
Exhibitors are a great "how-to" resource! Come learn how to restore everything from stained glass to brickwork, or find someone to do the work for you. See amazing technology "build" 3-D models from a photographic scan, shop for food and crafts from local artisans, and take home something special.

Daily Box Lunches for Purchase!
Make the most of your time by purchasing a box lunch to eat in the exhibit hall. Use your lunch break to see the exhibits, view the new Poster Sessions, and browse at the Bookstore. On Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, we make it easy by selling $10 box lunches to pick up in the Exhibit Hall. Pre-order by choosing the box on the registration form for the days you would like to have your lunch conveniently ready-made for you.

Going (more) Green
We know the greenest building is one that has already been built, and we're continuing to work on making the National Preservation Conference the greenest conference around. See page 38 for a list of this year's initiatives, and how you can help.