The National Trust’s PastForward Conference will take place October 28–30, 2024, in New Orleans, beginning a yearlong celebration of the organization’s 75th anniversary. The conference will focus on three key themes as they relate to historic preservation: climate resilience, wider representation, and community development. Below you’ll find a few highlights of PastForward’s history, programming, and host city.

1803: Year the Louisiana Purchase transfer ceremonies took place at the Cabildo (shown above, to the left of St. Louis Cathedral and the Presbytère). All three sites will host opening events at PastForward.

2: New Orleans restaurants (Dooky Chase and Antoine’s) that won Backing Historic Small Restaurants grants from the National Trust and American Express in 2021 and 2022.

2,850: Approximate number of conference scholarships the National Trust has provided over the years to support attendees from historically underrepresented groups.

50: Years since the Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans—one of several local partners in PastForward 2024—was founded.

22: Water features at Longue Vue House and Gardens, an 8-acre estate that is part of a PastForward “field study” excursion exploring the legacy of philanthropists Edgar and Edith Stern.