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The National Trust for Historic Preservation’s annual conference, PastForward, is quickly approaching! As we gear up for this exciting event, we're thrilled to be working on a special part of the programming on November 7th – our first in-person Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill since the start of the pandemic.

Based in Washington, D.C., this year’s conference allows our captains and dozens of advocacy volunteers to engage directly with federal representatives. Join us and our national and state partners in working to influence Congress on key areas of federal policy, including appropriations, tax incentives, and protections for historic and cultural resources.

Those who sign up for Advocacy Day are invited to attend a webinar hosted by Government Relations on October 24th to learn the latest messaging and best practices for effective advocacy. Early Bird registration for the conference ends on September 22nd. To be a part of this special opportunity, please check the appropriate box when registering for the conference in November.

The following field studies are sold out as of 9/25/2023:

• Addressing Critical Concerns in the Ethical Interpretation of History
• Conducting a Historic Building Assessment
• Liberty at Lorton: Transformation through Tax Credits
• Washington Beyond the Monuments (Overview Tour) [Wednesday]
• Washington Beyond the Monuments (Overview Tour) [Friday]

From artists and authors, filmmakers and tv personalities you'll be inspired by this year's lineup of PastForward speakers. We're excited today to feature Dr. Eric Cervini and Dr. Megan Springate.

Join us this November for a conversation with Eric and Megan about the importance of telling the story of the people and the places associated with LGBTQ+ history and how it’s been an integral part of American history.

Eric is an award-winning author, producer, and historian of LGBTQ+ politics. Eric's first book, The Deviant’s War: The Homosexual vs. the United States of America, was a New York Times bestseller and a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize.

An historical archaeologist by training, Megan has decades of experience in working with the public, in academia, non-profits, and in preservation. They worked with the National Park Service as editor of LGBTQ America: A Theme Study of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer History.

Learn more about Eric and Megan and our other inspiring speakers.

From artists and authors, filmmakers and tv personalities you'll be inspired by this year's lineup of PastForward speakers. We're excited today to feature Elizabeth and Ethan Finkelstein.

During A Conversation with Elizabeth and Ethan Finkelstein on Wednesday, November 8 they will share suggestions for empowering your own community! When you hear Elizabeth and Ethan Finkelstein speak, their passion for historic places shines through. Their love of old houses and their efforts to promote them has sparked a movement. On Instagram, @cheapoldhouses has amassed nearly 2 million followers and their HGTV show of the same name has exposed an even wider audience to the beauty of saving old houses.

They have built a community, and found a way to make historic preservation accessible to countless people who probably wouldn’t consider themselves preservationists.

Learn more about Elizabeth and Ethan and our other inspiring speakers.

Celebrate the power to enact positive change in your communities through preservation at PastForward 2023, November 8-10 in Washington, D.C. Learn from national experts in redevelopment, storytelling, and engagement on how to activate historic places that matter in your community. Network at the nation’s premier conference with your peers working to save, sustain, and interpret historic places.

Just announced!

Learn more about this year’s conference speakers and their sessions including the following:

• David Bowers, vice president and Mid-Atlantic market leader, Enterprise Community Partners
• Sehila Mota Casper, executive director, Latinos in Heritage Conservation
• Eric Cervini, Ph.D., award-winning author, producer, and historian of LGBTQ+ politics
• Karen Cho, creator of feature documentary, Big Fight in Little Chinatown
• Elizabeth + Ethan Finkelstein, founders of @CheapOldHouses, hosts of Who's Afraid of a Cheap Old House? on HGTV and authors of Cheap Old Houses: An Unconventional Guide to Loving and Restoring a Forgotten Home
• Sherry Frear, chief, National Register of Historic Places and National Historic Landmarks Program
• Jeffrey “Free” Harris, Ph.D., historian and historic preservation consultant and Rainbow Heritage Network Chair
• Marjorie Hunt, education specialist and folklife curator, Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
• Sojin Kim, curator, Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
• Thibault Manekin, author and co-founder of Seawall
• Megan Springate, editor of LGBTQ America: A Theme Study of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer History
• Jeffrey Yoo Warren, artist, community scientist, illustrator, and researcher from Providence, RI, and this year’s Library of Congress Innovator-in-Residence

And stay tuned as more get confirmed!

Register by September 22 for PastForward early bird savings.

Want to save more than $200? During conference registration sign up as "Non-Member becoming a Forum Member" to take advantage of the Forum member conference rate of $395.