The Arizona Preservation Foundation is Arizona's non-profit statewide historic preservation organization. Founded in 1979, the Foundation is dedicated to preserving Arizona's historic resources. This e-newsletter provides you with updates on Foundation activities and preservation news from across our state and nation's capital. Visit our website at azpreservation.org or our social media channels for more news and information.

Registration Open for Preserve AZ Conference, May 14-17, 2025

Now is the time to come together – historic preservation professionals, volunteers, tribal representatives, and community advocates alike – to face our nation’s challenges with resolve, purpose, and creativity. Registration is now open for the 2025 Preserve AZ Conference, happening May 14–17 in downtown Phoenix. Under this year’s theme, “Preservation, Education, Innovation,” we’ll explore opportunities to foster a stronger preservation ethic and grow our statewide network of advocates.

This year’s conference includes two full days of educational sessions and discussions designed for professionals in historic preservation, archaeology, cultural resource management, architecture, and planning – many of which offer continuing education credits. Public-sector board members, nonprofit volunteers, and tribal leadership and staff are especially encouraged to attend.

In addition to general programming, attendees can participate in pre-conference workshops, optional tours, and community-building activities that showcase Arizona’s diverse historic assets – from adobe repair techniques to behind-the-scenes tours of Phoenix landmarks.

• View the full agenda (days, times, descriptions)
• View the tours (handy fact sheet)
• View our sponsors and partners

 Register now for $370. Rates increase to $420 after May 9.

Visit the registration page to sign up for the main conference, select optional activities (just $15 each), and provide any accommodation needs to help ensure your full participation.

Let’s plan the past and preserve the future – together.

Locations of This Year's Workshops, Sessions, and Events

Conference Theme: "Preservation, Education, Innovation"​​

Preservation. 2025 will mark the release of the first comprehensive preservation plan the State of Arizona has seen in almost thirty years. So much has changed over the past three decades, within Arizona as well as within the field of historic preservation. The intensifying effects of climate change has brought a sense of urgency to resiliency planning for fragile cultural resources; the increased focus on renewable energy generation on public lands has fostered a dialogue about cultural landscapes and impacts to landscape level traditional cultural properties of Arizona’s tribes; and the broader social reckoning with the legacy of structural racism has brought attention to the need for our historic registers to reflect the true diversity of our state. In 1996, Arizona preservationists were just beginning to grapple with the “aging in” of postwar neighborhoods and midcentury architecture for National Register eligibility. Now, conversation has shifted into how the abundance of midcentury commercial buildings can be repurposed to address the crisis of affordable housing in our cities. 

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Education. The last decade or so has seen a decline in the numbers of preservation professionals entering the job force in the diverse field of historic preservation and cultural resources management. Traditional programs such as history, anthropology/archaeology, urban planning, architecture and design all offer coursework that address the materiality of our practice, but no single program among our state universities offers comprehensive training in the legal, technical and ethical aspects of preservation practice. This same issue is also found within preservation trades. Although Arizona has a thriving construction sector, owners of historic properties are hard-pressed to find specialists who understand adobe construction, wood and steel casement window repair, millwork and conservation of historic finishes. Intuitively, we know the talent and interest to engage in this work is out there, but how do we cultivate it to advance the practice of preservation in Arizona?

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Innovation. The 2025 PreserveAZ conference intends to bring together professionals, academics, policymakers, and community leaders to discuss the state of preservation education in Arizona. A special track put together by our conference partner Arizona State University will focus on the innovative work accomplished by a broad range of academic departments that holds the potential for developing comprehensive, cutting-edge preservation education here in Arizona. Preservation professionals from both the private and public sector will share examples of projects where best practices- including new technologies and methodologies- have been employed to address the evolving role of preservation in Arizona. Community leaders and government officials will provide insight into the broad range of policy issues faced by Arizona and how the next generation of preservationists can prepare to address them.

2025 Preserve AZ Tours!