Interested in Becoming a Conference Sponsor?
Click Here for Benefits & Online Signup
Click Here to Download the Brochure
2025 Conference Sponsors
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
2025 California Preservation Conference
Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges
Sacramento Convention Center, Sacramento, Calif. | May 6 to May 10, 2025
Join your colleagues at the Sacramento Convention Center, Sheraton Grand Sacramento, and other key locations across the region for an engaging and forward-thinking conference. Through insightful discussions and innovative ideas, we’ll explore how to bridge divides and overcome challenges, fostering a future that honors our shared heritage while advancing economic opportunity, safety, and community well-being.
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 Sacramento.
Conference Hotel and Room Rates
The Conference Hotel is the Sheraton Grand, Sacramento. We have reserved room blocks available at discounted rates for all conference attendees. Room reservations will be required.
Book your group rate for California Preservation Foundation
Event Summary:
California Preservation Foundation
225.00 USD per night
Last Day to Book: Tuesday, April 15, 2025
Book your group rate for California Preservation Foundation.
General Details
Your registration includes full access to our interactive conference mobile app.
Heritage conservation and preservation advocacy play a key role in important and pressing societal challenges, including housing, sustainability, community cohesion, and economic development. Through five tracks and special programs on Housing, Advocacy, and Fire Resiliency, we’ll delve into the challenging crossroads and positive steps taken in “Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges.”
- Over 40 in-classroom sessions and off-site tours and mobile workshops
Network with friends and colleagues at special events and mixers
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Opening Reception at the California State Railroad Museum (5/7)
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Emerging Professionals Mixers at K Street Legacy Bars
- President’s Circle Reception at the Leland Stanford Mansion (5/8)
- 2025 California Preservation Awards Reception & Ceremony at the California Museum (5/9)
Keynote Address
Keynote Address
This year, we welcome Sara Bronin, recent Chair of the Advisory Council for Historic Preservation to speak to our conference theme of “Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges.”
Sara C. Bronin is a Mexican-American architect, attorney, Cornell University professor, and policymaker whose interdisciplinary work focuses on how law and policy can foster more equitable, sustainable, well-designed, and connected places. She wrote Key to the City: How Zoning Shapes Our World, and she founded and leads the National Zoning Atlas, which is digitizing, demystifying, and democratizing information about zoning in the United States.
Bronin is one of the foremost American scholars in property, land use, zoning, and historic preservation law, having (co-)authored two treatises, four books, and dozens of articles. She has been a reformer and change-maker in public roles at the local, state, and federal levels, including a Presidentially-appointed, Senate-confirmed role chairing the federal historic preservation agency. She holds a J.D. from Yale (Harry S Truman Scholarship), M.Sc. from the University of Oxford (Rhodes Scholarship), and B.Architecture and B.A. in Plan II from the University of Texas. A seventh-generation Texan, Sara is a native Houstonian.
Full Conference Schedule
Conference Schedule
For full conference schedule with descriptions and speakers, visit https://cpf.lineupr.com/cpf25/
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TUESDAY, MAY 6, 2025 |
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1:00 PM – 5:00 PM |
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Lobby Day for Historic Preservation Advocacy |
Offsite |
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WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2025 |
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9:00 AM – 12:30 PM |
T |
The Powerhouse Museum: From History to Science and Curiosity |
Bus |
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9:30 AM – 11:30 PM |
T |
Architect and Artist Alfred Eichler: A Walking Tour |
Walking |
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1:00 – 5:00 PM |
● |
Balancing Housing and Preservation: Policies, Case Studies, and Strategies |
B8 |
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1:00 – 5:00 PM |
T |
Sacramento Railyards: Transforming the Past for a Sustainable Future |
Walking |
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1:30 – 5:30 PM |
T |
Behind the Scenes at the California State Parks Collection |
Bus |
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6:00 – 7:30 PM |
T* |
Opening Reception at the California State Railroad Museum |
Offsite |
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7:30 – 9:30 PM |
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Emerging Professionals – K Street Bar Crawl |
Walking ^ |
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THURSDAY, MAY 8, 2025 |
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9:00 – 10:30 AM |
● |
Plenary Session, St. John’s Lutheran Church |
Offsite ^ |
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10:40 AM – 1:30 PM |
T |
Touring Sacramento’s Historic Districts |
Walking |
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10:40 AM – 1:30 PM |
T |
Sacramento’s Chinatown: The Lasting Impact of Redevelopment |
Walking |
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11:00 AM – 12:30 PM |
● |
Uncovering California’s Underrecognized Heritage: Case Examples from a New CPF Program |
B8 |
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11:00 AM – 12:30 PM |
● |
Water Infrastructure as a Historic Resource: Challenges and Solutions |
13 |
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11:00 AM – 12:30 PM |
● |
Maximizing Historic Tax Credits: Public and Non-Profit Strategies |
B7 |
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1:30 – 3:30 PM |
● |
Office of Historic Preservation – State Preservation Plan Listening Session |
B8 |
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2:00 – 3:30 PM |
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The Future of Heritage Conservation with Immersive Technology |
13 |
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2:00 – 3:30 PM |
● |
Navigating Historic Discretionary Reviews |
14/15 |
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2:00 – 3:30 PM |
● |
Creative Adaptive Reuse for the Housing Crisis |
B7 |
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3:45 – 5:15 PM |
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New State Housing Policies and Their Impact on Historic Resources |
B7 |
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3:45 – 5:15 PM |
● |
CEQA Historic Resources: Hot Topics and Expert Insights |
14/15 |
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3:45 – 5:15 PM |
● |
Synchronicity! Preserving Memorial Auditorium as a Performing Arts Hub |
13 |
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6:00 – 7:30 PM |
T |
President’s Circle Reception (invite only) – Leland Stanford Mansion |
Offsite ^ |
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8:00 – 9:30 PM |
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Pub Crawl: Exploring Sacramento’s Historic R Street Corridor |
Walking ^ |
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FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2025 |
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9:00 AM – 12:15 PM |
T |
Adaptive Reuse Housing in Sacramento: Touring Two Success Stories |
Bus |
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9:00 – 10:30 AM |
● |
Community-Driven Preservation: Updating Your Program and Code |
14/15 |
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9:00 – 10:30 AM |
● |
California’s Delta: History, Identity, and Change |
B8 |
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9:00 – 10:30 AM |
● |
Championing African American Cultural Heritage |
13 |
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10:45 AM – 12:15 PM |
● |
Multicultural Chinatown: Celebrating the Past & Supporting the Future in Salinas |
14/15 |
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10:45 AM – 12:15 PM |
● |
Blueprints for Change: Student Innovations in Preservation & Public History |
B8 |
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10:45 AM – 12:15 PM |
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Empowering Underrepresented Voices in Historic Preservation |
13 |
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10:45 AM – 12:15 PM |
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Revitalizing Sacramento’s Historic Hotels: Creative Conversions |
B7 |
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2:00 – 5:15 PM |
● |
Safeguarding History: Disaster Preparedness Strategies for California’s Cultural Heritage |
B8 |
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2:00 – 5:15 PM |
T |
Reviving Sacramento’s Iconic Solarpunk Office and Community Atrium |
B6/Walking ^ |
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2:00 – 3:30 PM |
● |
Contextualizing and Caring for Modernist Outdoor Public Art |
B7 |
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2:00 – 3:30 PM |
● |
Protecting Cultural Heritage in Disinvested Communities |
13 |
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2:00 – 3:30 PM |
● |
Small Housing, Big Lessons |
14/15 |
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3:45 – 5:15 PM |
● |
Advocacy for Historic Rail Stations: Oakland Southern Pacific Station in Focus |
B7 |
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3:45 – 5:15 PM |
● |
Lessons Learned from the Battle to Save the Sacramento State Capitol |
13 |
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6:00 – 10:00 PM |
T* |
Preservation Design Awards – California State Museum |
CA State Museum |
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SATURDAY, MAY 10, 2025 |
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9:00AM – 5:15 PM |
T |
Discovering the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta’s National Heritage – A Tour |
Bus |
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10:00 AM – 12:15 PM |
T |
Walking Tour of Lavender Library / Lavender Heights + LGBTQ+ Survey |
Walking |
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9:30 – 11:30 AM |
T |
Sacramento’s Terra Cotta Buildings – A Walking Tour |
Walking |
Hotel Information and Discounted Rates for Conference Attendees
The Conference Hotel is the Sheraton Grand, Sacramento. We have reserved room blocks available at discounted rates for all conference attendees. Room reservations will be required.
Book your group rate for California Preservation Foundation
Event Summary:
California Preservation Foundation
225.00 USD per night
Last Day to Book: Tuesday, April 15, 2025
Book your group rate for California Preservation Foundation
Conference Pricing & Ticket Options
Conference Registration
Conference Ticket Prices (2025)
|
MEMBER Ticket |
Cost |
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Full Package (Includes Opening Reception and Awards Reception) – a 20% savings |
$580 |
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Regular Registration |
$360 |
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Single Day: Thursday Registration Member Rate |
$185 |
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Single Day: Friday Registration |
$185 |
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NON-MEMBER Ticket |
|
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Full Package (Includes Opening Reception and Awards Reception) – a 20% savings |
$625 |
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Regular Registration |
$390 |
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Single Day: Thursday Registration |
$200 |
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Single Day: Friday Registration |
$200 |
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Tickets for Students/Speakers/Moderators |
Cost |
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Student Registration (ID Required) |
$75 |
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Speakers & Moderators (All Conference Sessions – Special Events not Included) |
$75 |
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Special Events / Tours / Awards Programs |
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Advocacy Day |
Free |
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Housing Summit |
Free |
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Museum of Science and Curiosity / Powerhouse Tour |
$75 |
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California State Library Tour & Alfred Eichler Tour |
$40 |
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California State Parks Collection |
$75 |
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Railyards Tour (Starting Contruction Early May???) |
$40 |
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OPENING RECEPTION California State Railroad Museum |
$125 |
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Emerging Professionals – K Street Bar Crawl |
Free |
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Plenary Session, St Johns Lutheran Church |
Free |
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Planning for the Future: Sacramento Historic Districts Tour |
$40 |
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Building Inclusive Preservation Programs: Japantown to Chinatown Tour |
$40 |
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President’s Circle Reception – Leland Stanford Mansion |
Invite Only |
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R Street Bar Crawl |
Free |
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Housing & Heritage – Blast from the Past – Globe Mills / WAL – ADAPTIVE REUSE |
$75 |
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MOBILE WORKSHOP – Tech Forward California (Bateson Building) |
$40 |
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Preservation Design Awards – California State Museum |
$225 (discounted for conference registrants only) |
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Delta Tour |
$125 |
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Walking Tour of Lavender Library / Lavender Heights + LGBTQ+ Survey |
Free |
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Terra Cotta Tour |
$40 |
Conference Tracks
Our conference will include six thematic Tracks:
- Planning for the Future. Examining our existing regulations and planning tools to address challenging preservation problems and to protect and adapt our most valued historic landmarks.
- Tech Forward California. Innovative methods, treatment approaches, and technologies that break new ground or revolutionize preservation practices.
- Building Inclusive Preservation Programs. Ensuring the rich diversity of California’s heritage is recognized and celebrated with creative methods on how to engage underrecognized communities and to make true stakeholders of community partners.
- Central Valley Visions. Approaching the unique challenges of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and Central Valley.
- Housing & Heritage. Expert-led training and case examples drawn from historic preservation practice for the retention and adaptive reuse of historic structures for housing, both market rate and affordable.
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.
