Annual Sponsors
Why Attend?
- Obtain Continuing Education Units available for all educational programs at no additional cost (CEUs not available for Doors Open events)
- Network with friends and colleagues across the country and internationally in our unique online, interactive events.
- Keep up with the latest research and scholarship in historic preservation, city planning, equity issues, design, archaeology, and architecture.
- Gain unique and unparalleled access to California’s hidden histories and masterworks of design.
Continuing Education
All live programs qualify for continuing education units through the AIA, AICP, ASLA and CLG. All attendees can take advantage of our continuing education program at no additional cost. Many sessions qualify for Health, Safety, and Welfare units (HSW). Some sessions will qualify for AICP legal and ethics credits.
For More Information
- Call us at 415-495-0349
- Email at cpf@californiapreservation.org
Photo Courtesy Sacramento Real Estate Photographers, Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0
2026 California Preservation Conference
Riverside Convention Center, Riverside, Calif. | May 6 to May 9, 2026
The California Preservation Conference brings more than 600 participants from across the state to learn, network, and share successes. The conference will include over 40 sessions, special events, networking activities, and site tours in and around Riverside.
General Details
Your registration includes full access to our interactive conference mobile app.
As California faces rapid change, the past offers more than lessons—it offers possibility. Our 50th Annual Conference invites preservationists, planners, architects, advocates, and community leaders to explore how heritage conservation can drive creative, inclusive, and sustainable futures.
Through five interdisciplinary tracks—Reuse & Revitalization, Participation & Engagement, Tools & Technology, History & Heritage, and Preservation Planning & Practice—we’ll uncover bold ideas that expand preservation’s role in solving today’s most pressing challenges. From adaptive reuse and housing innovation to digital documentation, community empowerment, and policy reform, this year’s conference bridges past and future to reimagine what preservation can be—and who it serves.
- Over 40 in-classroom sessions at the Riverside Convention Center
- Discounted hotel room block available at the National Historic Landmark Mission Inn
- Off-site tours and mobile workshops
Network with friends and colleagues at special events and mixers
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Opening Reception at the Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture (5/6)
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Emerging Professionals Mixer
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President’s Circle Reception (5/7)
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2025 California Preservation Awards Reception & Ceremony (5/8)
Keynote Speaker
Keynote Address
Sabrina Gonzalez, Executive Director of the Civil Rights Institute of Southern California
Raised in the Inland Empire, Sabrina Gonzalez is a first-generation college graduate with a master’s in nonprofit management who has dedicated her career to supporting youth and historically underserved communities. She has worked in education and youth development across California and Massachusetts, helping young people build life skills, access services, and prepare for the future. As the inaugural Executive Director of the Civil Rights Institute of Inland Southern California, Gonzalez leads efforts in civil rights education, historical preservation, and community engagement across Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Find Sabrina’s full biography at the Civil Rights Institute of Southern California.
Register & Pricing
Conference Registration
Conference Ticket Prices
| MEMBER Ticket | Cost |
| Full Package (Includes Opening Reception on Wednesday & Annual Luncheon on Friday) – a 15% savings | $505 |
| Regular Registration | $390 |
| Single Day: Thursday Registration Member Rate | $200 |
| Single Day: Friday Registration | $225 |
| NON-MEMBER Ticket (to receive the member discounts, join as a member here first) |
|
| Full Package (Includes Opening Reception and Awards Reception) – a 15% savings | $545 |
| Regular Registration | $430 |
| Single Day: Thursday Registration | $240 |
| Single Day: Friday Registration | $265 |
| Tickets for Students/Speakers/Moderators | Cost |
| Student Registration (ID Required) | $75 |
| Speakers & Moderators (All Conference Sessions – Special Events not Included) |
$75 |
| Special Events / Tours / Awards Programs | |
| SPECIAL EVENTS | |
| Opening Reception @ the Cheech | $130 |
| Annual Luncheon – Riverside Convention Center Patio | $75 |
| Preservation Design Awards – Mission Inn Only the Ceremony is Included with Conference Registration (pre-RSVP required) – To Register for the Ceremony+Reception, Register Here Separately |
$225 members / $250 non-members (Ceremony + Celebratory Reception) |
| Tours/Mobile Workshops | |
| WEDNESDAY, MAY 6 | |
| Study Tour: Fairmont Park | $75 |
| Study Tour: Reclaiming Pa’Capa: Honoring the Ancestors living in today’s public spaces + Riverside and “Pá’Čapa: A Mt. Rubidoux Story” film | $30 |
| Study Tour: Citrus Heritage | $75 |
| Study Tour: Sam Maloof House and Maloof Foundation for Arts Tour |
$150 |
| THURSDAY, MAY 7 | |
| Mobile Workshop: From Motel to Riverside Community Hub: The Farm House Collective | $75 |
| Mobile Workshop: History, Heritage, and Restoration of the 1862 Trujillo Adobe | $75 |
| Mobile Workshop: Piecing it Together: Modern Techniques in Mosaic Conservation | $70 |
| FRIDAY, MAY 8 | |
| Study Tour: Riverside City Hall and Surroundings: Mid-Century Municipal Identity | $50 |
| Study Tour: Riverside Museums: A Legacy of Adaptive Reuse for the Arts | $50 |
| Mobile Workshop: Queering the I.E.* | $50 |
| SATURDAY, MAY 9 | |
| Study Tour: Peter J Weber House | $20 |
| Study Tour: Murrieta Hot Springs | $210 |
| Study Tour: Route 66 Preservation Success Stories: A Mother Road Centennial Tour | $150 |
Full Conference Schedule
Conference Schedule
For full conference schedule with descriptions and speakers, visit https://cpf.lineupr.com/cpf26/
| DAY | DATE | EVENT | TICKET? |
| Wednesday | May 6 | Certified Local Government (CLG) Forum (TIME TBC) | |
| Wednesday | May 6 | Study Tour: Citrus Heritage Tour | TICKETED |
| Wednesday | May 6 | Study Tour: Sam Maloof House and Maloof Foundation for Arts and | TICKETED |
| Wednesday | May 6 | Study Tour: (REVISED TBC) Reclaiming Pá’čapa: Honoring Ancestors in Today’s Public Spaces | TICKETED |
| Wednesday | May 6 | Advocacy Workshop | |
| Wednesday | May 6 | OHP Training | |
| Wednesday | May 6 | Study Tour: Fairmont Park | TICKETED |
| Wednesday | May 6 | Opening Reception – The Cheech | TICKETED |
| Thursday | May 7 | Plenary Session – First Congregational Church | |
| Thursday | May 7 | From Motel to Riverside Community Hub: The Farm House Collective (Mobile Workshop, BUS, LUNCH NOT INCLUDED IN PRICE)* | TICKETED |
| Thursday | May 7 | State Historic Resources Commission Meeting | |
| Thursday | May 7 | Redefining Suburbs: Spatial Acculturation in the San Gabriel Valley | |
| Thursday | May 7 | Discovery Through Digital Documentation: Creating Accessible and Immersive Experiences | |
| Thursday | May 7 | Community Cornerstones: Catalyzing California’s Main Streets Through Adaptive Reuse | |
| Thursday | May 7 | Beyond the Plaque: Amplifying Community Voices* | |
| Thursday | May 7 | Park Stewardship: Balancing Recreation and Preservation | |
| Thursday | May 7 | Restoring a Palm Springs Icon: Preservation and Community-Led Revitalization of the Plaza Theatre* | |
| Thursday | May 7 | Flexible by Design: Leasing Strategies for Adaptive Reuse | |
| Thursday | May 7 | When Research Becomes Recuperation: Contexts for Under-Represented Communities* | |
| Thursday | May 7 | History, Heritage, and Restoration of the 1862 Trujillo Adobe* (Mobile Workshop, BUS) | TICKETED |
| Thursday | May 7 | Piecing it Together: Modern Techniques in Mosaic Conservation (Mobile Workshop) | TICKETED |
| Thursday | May 7 | Park Stewardship: Balancing Recreation and Preservation | |
| Thursday | May 7 | Restoring a Palm Springs Icon: Preservation and Community-Led Revitalization of the Plaza Theatre* | |
| Thursday | May 7 | Flexible by Design: Leasing Strategies for Adaptive Reuse | |
| Thursday | May 7 | [possible additional program by P&E Chairs]* | |
| Thursday | May 7 | President’s Circle Reception at the Mackey House (by invitation) | |
| Friday | May 8 | Riverside Museums: A Legacy of Adaptive Reuse for the Arts* (Mobile Workshop) | TICKETED |
| Friday | May 8 | Queering the I.E.* (Mobile Workshop) | TICKETED |
| Friday | May 8 | Shaping Preservation: Lessons Learned from Riverside’s Cultural Heritage Board | |
| Friday | May 8 | Relocating History: Saving Houses & Rebuilding Communities | |
| Friday | May 8 | Student Session | |
| Friday | May 8 | How Women’s History is Changing Preservation | |
| Friday | May 8 | Many Faces of the Mills Act: History, Myths, Wins, and Pitfalls | |
| Friday | May 8 | Documenting Resilience: Filipinx and Latinx Heritage in Rural California | |
| Friday | May 8 | Annual Membership Meeting | |
| Friday | May 8 | Voices of the Barrios: Cultural Heritage in the Pomona Valley* | |
| Friday | May 8 | Modern Materials for Historic Buildings (title TBD) | |
| Friday | May 8 | Riverside City Hall and Surroundings: Mid-Century Municipal Identity | TICKETED |
| Friday | May 8 | Where History Happened: Preserving and Interpreting Sites of Immigration History* | |
| Friday | May 8 | Archiving for Community Access: Digitizing History on a Budget with Modern Tools* | |
| Friday | May 8 | Adaptive Reuse Ordinances, 2025 and Beyond | |
| Friday | May 8 | Erecting a Family Home Into A Cultural Archive: Building Grassroots Preservation Spaces | |
| Friday | May 8 | California Preservation Awards at the Mission Inn | |
| SATURDAY, MAY 9 | |||
| Saturday | May 9 | Asian American Heritage Tour (TBC) OR Mission Inn Foundation Tour | TICKETED |
| Saturday | May 9 | The Peter J. Weber House | TICKETED |
| Saturday | May 9 | Reviving a Wellness Legacy: Murrieta Hot Springs Resort | TICKETED |
| Saturday | May 9 | Route 66 Preservation Success Stories: A Mother Road Centennial Tour | TICKETED |
Hotel Information and Discounted Rates for Conference Attendees
Join us at the historic Mission Inn. Discounted rates for all conference attendees are available now. Room reservations will be required.
Book your room using the group name: “California Preservation Foundation”
Room Rate: 209.00 USD per night
Last Day to Book: Sunday, April 5th, 2026
Conference Tracks
Our conference will include six thematic Tracks:
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Reuse & Revitalization — Exploring creative solutions for housing, density, and the reuse of historic buildings.
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Participation & Engagement — Strengthening partnerships with communities, advocates, and stakeholders to broaden preservation’s reach
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Tools & Technology — Harnessing new technologies and digital tools that transform how we document, interpret, and protect historic places.
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History & Heritage — Deepening our understanding of the diverse stories, people, and movements that shape California’s built environment.
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Preservation Planning & Practice — Advancing policy, planning, and professional standards to ensure preservation remains a vital part of community development.
Sponsorship
Interested in Becoming a Conference Sponsor?
Click Here for Benefits & Online Signup
Click Here to Download the Brochure
Volunteer Application
Volunteers receive complimentary access for the same amount of time they volunteer. A full volunteer information packet is available for download here.
All interested volunteers must submit a volunteer application on the form below.
Past Conference Programs
Interested in Our Past Programs?
Click the year of the program below for all the fun details from the last three years at the CPF Annual Conference.
