Nicolas R. Laracuente, Kentucky Heritage Council
There are two Kentucky preservation / archaeology conferences coming up. On October 14 (just a few short weeks away) is the Preservation Trailblazers Conference a day-long celebration commemorating the 50th anniversary of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and the Kentucky Heritage Council/State Historic Preservation Office (KHC) in downtown Frankfort. This will be a unique event gathering many of the people who were instrumental in some of the early preservation activities in the state.
On March 2 – 5, 2017, the 34th Annual Archaeology Conference will take place in Louisville. The Special Session on archaeology of the Falls Region promises to be especially interesting. David Pollack and Anne Bader have invited several of the most prominent scholars who work in this region to present. Many of them do not normally attend the KHC conference, so it will be very exciting to network with folks in neighboring states and get their perspectives. Thanks to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet for making this session possible!
Both events are open to the public so mark your calendars. More information of each event is below:
Preservation Trailblazers Oct. 14 in Frankfort Pays Tribute to National Historic Preservation Act 50th Anniversary
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Sept. 14, 2016) – The public is invited to take part in a day-long celebration commemorating the 50th anniversary of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and the Kentucky Heritage Council/State Historic Preservation Office (KHC) on Friday, Oct. 14 in downtown Frankfort.
Co-sponsored by KHC and Liberty Hall Historic Site (LHHS), special thanks goes to the Trailblazer Sponsor, the Owsley Brown II Family Foundation. The event is also presented in partnership with the Kentucky Historical Society, Preservation Kentucky, Kentucky Trust for Historic Preservation, Kentucky Main Street Program, Kentucky Division of Historic Properties, Blue Grass Trust for Historic Preservation, Preservation Louisville, The Kentucky Chapter of the National Society of Colonial Dames of America, University of Kentucky College of Design Historic Preservation Program, Downtown Frankfort, Inc. Main Street, Franklin County Trust for Historic Preservation, Frankfort Transit and Frankfort Parks, Recreation and Historic Sites.
Concurrent sessions exploring Kentucky’s historic preservation legacy will take place from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Orlando Brown House at LHHS and the Old State Capitol, both National Historic Landmarks. The main event, “Preservation Trailblazers,” will take place at 5:30 p.m. at the historic Grand Theatre and feature an interactive conversation among some of the leaders of Kentucky’s historic preservation movement over five decades. Other highlights include a keynote lunch and closing celebration on the grounds of Liberty Hall.
The Preservation Trailblazers panel will include David Morgan, retired long-time state historic preservation officer; Steve Collins, KHC chair; Dick DeCamp, first executive director of the Blue Grass Trust and head of Lexington’s first historic commission; Betty Dobson, grassroots preservationist whose efforts helped save Paducah’s Hotel Metropolitan; Keith Runyon with Preservation Louisville, co-chair of the Louisville Historic Preservation Advisory Task Force; Jim Thomas, long-time executive director of Shaker Village at Pleasant Hill; Barbara Hulette of Danville, a tireless advocate and fundraiser; Alicestyne Turley, director of the Carter G. Woodson Center and Assistant Professor of African and African American studies at Berea College; David Cartmell, Maysville mayor; Nash Cox of Frankfort, local historian and past president of LHHS; Dr. John Kleber, historian and editor of the “Kentucky Encyclopedia,” among others; and Patrick Snadon, associate professor of architecture and interior design at the University of Cincinnati and co-author of “The Domestic Architecture of Benjamin Henry Latrobe.”
In tribute to the signing of the NHPA by President Lyndon B. Johnson on October 15, 1966, early online registration through Sept. 30 is $66 and includes a continental breakfast, box lunch and closing celebration. Registration after this date is $85, and a ticket for Preservation Trailblazers and the closing celebration only is $25.
Register at www.libertyhall.org and see a complete schedule of events at www.heritage.ky.gov.
“One can’t truly understand the history of historic preservation in Kentucky without a healthy understanding of the NHPA and its positive influence,” said Craig Potts, KHC executive director and state historic preservation officer. “This event will reflect on 50 years of successes, losses and milestones, and will take stock of the tremendous effort put forth by professionals, volunteers, advocates, leaders and regular citizens to preserve Kentucky’s irreplaceable cultural heritage.
“This is a great time to consider the Section 106 provision’s influence on federal projects throughout the state, the archaeological legacy of Red River Gorge, the breadth of historic sites documented through historic buildings survey and the National Register, the tremendous economic impact of the Kentucky Main Street Program, and the legacy of communities that have made preservation a priority through Certified Local Government designation,” he added.
LHHS Executive Director Julienne Foster said their organization is proud to host and administer the 50th anniversary event. LHHS was the first historic house museum in Kentucky to benefit from the NHPA through a large-scale archaeological investigation, and sessions will focus on that as well as the economic benefits of rural preservation and Kentucky women in house preservation.
“Liberty Hall was arguably ground zero for women at the forefront of the preservation movement in Kentucky,” Foster said. “Many women who worked to preserve LHHS also worked to preserve other important sites across the state. This seminar will recognize their legacy and inspire participants to blaze their own trails.”
34thAnnual Kentucky Heritage Council Archaeology Conference
Call for Papers and Posters
The 34rd Annual Kentucky Heritage Council Archaeology Conference will be hosted in partnership with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Kentucky Archaeological Survey, Corn Island Archaeology, and the Kentucky Organization of Professional Archaeologists on March 2-5, 2017, Louisville, Kentucky. The conference will take place at the Ramada Downtown North in Louisville, Kentucky. Those interested in presenting a paper or poster should send an abstract (100 words maximum) no later than January 4, 2017 to:
Nick Laracuente
Kentucky Heritage Council
300 Washington Street
Frankfort, Kentucky 40601
Phone: (502) 564.7005, ext. 122
Email: Nicolas.Laracuente@ky.gov
Please be sure to indicate your preferred presentation format with your abstract submission. Participants will be allocated 20 minutes per oral presentation. There will also be a designated time and space for poster presenters to discuss their projects with conference attendees.
In conjunction with this year’s conference, the Kentucky Archaeological Survey and Corn Island Archaeology have organized a special session on Native American use of the Falls of the Ohio River region. The intent is to provide an opportunity for invited researchers to present on their latest data and interpretations, and to interact with others interested in the archaeology of this geographically important area. Informal sessions will be held on Thursday and Friday (March 2nd and 3rd) and formal papers from invited speakers will open the conference on Saturday (March 4th). On Friday afternoon there will be an opportunity to examine projectile point and ceramic collections from the Falls of the Ohio River region. This will be followed by a tour of Locust Grove. If you have any questions concerning this special session please contact David Pollack (david.pollack@uky.edu).