RSVP for Local History and Historic Preservation Conference

media release: Join the Wisconsin Historical Society for the 16th Annual Local History & Historic Preservation Conference! Gather with colleagues from around the state and beyond as we exchange ideas and share our vision for the future of local history and historic preservation in Wisconsin, the Midwest, and the nation.

Thursday, Oct 13 | 7 AM – 4 PM; Friday, Oct 14 | 7 AM - 1 PM

This year's conference combines in-person and online experiences. The in-person event will be held at the Central Wisconsin Convention & Expo Center in Rothschild, Wisconsin. Can't make it in person or want to revisit a session after the conference? A concurrent online experience will also be offered, with recordings available to all registrants!

Under the theme of "Connecting Communities: Power of Place," our keynote speakers will each share perspectives of the power of place and the past to inform the future.

Thursday Keynote: Making History Today by Sean Kelley, Senior Vice President & Director of Interpretation, Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site

Join us as we discuss surprising, engaging, and even playful strategies that engage audiences beyond a detached view of history as something distant and finished. Learn how this work can connect historic events to contemporary issues, encourage people who have experienced trauma to shape their own narratives to share with the public, create interactive experiences where audiences share opinions and experiences, and embed site-specific artist installations into traditional historic site exhibits.

Friday Keynote: The Meaning of Jamestown-Yorktown and the American Revolution Today by Christy S. Coleman, Executive Director, Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation

Join us for an engaging and thought-provoking conversation about recent initiatives at the Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown to raise awareness and understanding of the shared legacies of American history.

More speakers will be announced soon.

The 2022 Local History & Historic Preservation Conference is presented in partnership with the Wisconsin Association of Historic Preservation Commissions, the Wisconsin Council for Local History, and the Wisconsin Historical Records Advisory Board.

Two-Day Adult Attendance: $140; One-Day Adult Attendance: $80; Two-Day Student Attendance: $80; One-Day Student Attendance: $50; Online Attendee: $5. Advanced registration required by Oct. 7 for in-person registrations and Oct. 10 for online.

Society members receive a 10% discount, please verify your membership where prompted to receive discount at check out.  

Location: Central Wisconsin Convention & Expo Center, 10101 Market St., Rothschild

This event can be attended in-person or online. If attending in person, please select the sessions, workshops, and meal options you wish to attend at check out. Please be aware due to popularity that some workshops may fill up quickly and are on a first-come, first-served basis. The Central Wisconsin Convention & Expo Center is ADA accessible.

For more information, please contact Amy Norlin at lhhpconference@wisconsinhistory.org or 608-264-6579. 

Guests with additional mobility needs are encouraged to contact Amy Norlin directly.