State Historical Society of Iowa Press Release

Statewide Preservation Conference in Decorah April 27-28

Focus is on developing historic preservation for the future

DES MOINES – Historic preservationists, owners of historic properties and others can now register for next month’s statewide preservation conference in Decorah.

The 2012 Statewide Historic Preservation Conference will be April 27-28, 2012, at the Hotel Winneshiek, 104 East Water Street in Decorah. Visit www.ishpc.org to register, or contact Laurann Gilbertson at gilbertsondecorah@gmail.com or Paula Mohr at paula.mohr@iowa.gov or 515-281-6826 for more information.

The conference will focus on developing historic preservation for the future with 12 workshops featuring a variety of topics ranging from the mechanics of Historic Preservation Tax Credits to historic window and masonry restoration, and cemetery and burial preservation. The keynote speaker will be Donovan Rypkema, a nationally recognized expert on the Economics of Historic Preservation.

Conference attendees will also have the opportunity to tour historic sites in the Decorah area: Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum, the Porter House Museum, Fort Atkinson and the Decorah Historic District.

The Hotel Winneshiek is a showplace of historic preservation with 30 individually decorated rooms, completely restored interior, and the stunning adjacent Steyer Opera House, which will be the site of the banquet and keynote address on April 27.

The Decorah Historic Preservation Commission is hosting the conference in conjunction with the State Historic Preservation Office, Department of Cultural Affairs, with support from the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, and Preservation Iowa.

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The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs is responsible for developing the state’s interest in the areas of the arts, history and other cultural matters with the advice and assistance from its two divisions: the State Historical Society of Iowa and the Iowa Arts Council. DCA preserves, researches, interprets and promotes an awareness and understanding of local, state and regional history and stimulates and encourages the study and presentation of the performing and fine arts and public interest and participation in them. It implements tourism-related art and history projects as directed by the General Assembly and designs a comprehensive, statewide, long-range plan with the assistance of the Iowa Arts Council to develop the arts in Iowa. More information about DCA is available at www.culturalaffairs.org.