8:00 am
4:00 pm
Ticketed - $85
Often associated with stoneware from local pottery companies and durable footwear from the Red Wing Shoe Company, Red Wing is a scenic Mississippi River town renowned for preserving buildings and archaeological sites that reflect its origins as a wheat-driven boomtown, industrial center, and tourist destination.The tour will stop at Ȟe Mni Caŋ (Barn Bluff), Red Wing’s most famous landmark, highlighting its cultural significance to both Native Americans and Euro-Americans; the Ȟe Mni Caŋ Entrance Plaza was recently designed and constructed in collaboration with the Prairie Island Indian Community. Nearby, the G.A. Carlson Lime Kiln interprets the city’s limestone industry and its impact on the local landscape.Red Wing’s thriving central business district, with its parks and City Beautiful–era governmental buildings, demonstrates a variety of preservation strategies, including tax incentives, bond issues, public/private partnerships, donations, and private investment. The tour will also visit the Anderson Center at Tower View, the former estate of Dr. Alexander Pierce Anderson, internationally known for developing Quaker Puffed Wheat and Quaker Puffed Rice. Built between 1915 and 1921, Tower View now supports artists and scholars with rental space and a year-round calendar of programs.
12:30 pm
4:30 pm
Ticketed - $45
When the history of African Americans is omitted or minimized, the true record of events is distorted, leaving vital voices unheard. This tour highlights important events and narratives from before the founding of Minneapolis to the present day. Participants will make three stops and view additional sites from the bus.The first stop is the Fort Snelling Visitor Center, where you will learn about enslaved African descendants—including Dred and Harriet Scott—and the contributions of African American soldiers during the Civil War. The second stop is the Coliseum Building, a historic department store and dance hall revitalized through historic tax credits with a Black-led design team. The third stop is the Sabathani Community Center, formerly Bryant Junior High School, home to a living history museum.Along the route, participants will also see the city’s only all-Black fire station, the iconic house where Purple Rain was filmed, the current home of the city’s oldest AME congregation, residences of community leaders such as Harry Davis, Sr. and Lena Olive Smith, the office of Minnesota’s longest-running Black newspaper—the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder—and George Floyd Square.
1:15 pm
4:15 pm
Ticketed - $40
Minneapolis is renowned for its diverse and vibrant music scene—from Prince and Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis’s creation of the “Minneapolis Sound” to Bob Dylan and the Cedar-Riverside folk scene, and the high-energy punk rock of Hüsker Dü and The Replacements. Join local music historian Kristen Zschomler, City of Minneapolis Planning Manager Jason Wittenberg, and local historian Chris Steller as they guide you through the neighborhoods, schools, and clubs where these genres came to life. Learn about the city’s efforts to develop a historic context for its music scene and discover preservation initiatives aimed at protecting the places that helped make Minneapolis so C.O.O.L.
10:30 am
11:45 am
Ticketed - $25
Explore three enduring public landscapes—Nicollet Mall, Peavey Plaza, and Loring Greenway—originally designed in the 1960s–1970s and reimagined through evolving public-private partnerships. This tour highlights diverse strategies for reactivating these spaces while balancing the original design intent with contemporary needs for accessibility, sustainability, and public engagement. Through these case studies, participants will take part in facilitated discussions to spark ideas and inform their own HPC initiatives, offering a valuable opportunity for practical brainstorming and peer exchange.
1:15 pm
4:15 pm
Ticketed - $35
The Minneapolis Warehouse Historic District is the largest commercial area in Minnesota listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is also recognized by the City of Minneapolis as a local historic district. Spanning 30 blocks, the district was once the center of warehouse and wholesale activity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when Minneapolis emerged as a major shipping and distribution hub in the Upper Midwest.The district is also notable for its architecture. Many buildings were designed by prominent local architects and represent a range of architectural styles from the period, with most structures remaining largely intact.In recent decades, the area has transformed from a quiet industrial neighborhood into one of the city’s most vibrant districts. This tour will explore the district’s history and architecture, highlight examples of how historic tax credits helped rehabilitate and preserve key buildings, and discuss ongoing challenges in maintaining the district’s historic character. Participants will also visit several tax credit projects to see firsthand how interior spaces have been adapted and improved. These stops will illustrate how Minneapolis is using historic preservation to help revitalize downtown in the wake of the pandemic.
1:15 pm
4:15 pm
Ticketed - $40
Full Circle Indigenous Planning + Design is a 100% Native American–owned, community-focused design firm. They collaborate with communities and organizations to create culturally appropriate, operationally efficient, and fiscally responsible design solutions. This tour will visit three urban sites in and near the downtown core.The first stop is the Minneapolis American Indian Center, which recently renovated and expanded its aging facility to provide a variety of spaces and services at the heart of the Urban American Indian Cultural Corridor. Next, Red Lake Nation College adapted existing buildings to expand its Minneapolis campus, featuring culturally focused learning spaces and an upper-level roof deck. The tour concludes at the new offices of Owámniyomni Okhódayapi, a Dakota-led nonprofit working to transform five acres of riverfront land into a space for restoration, education, healing, and connection.
8:00 am
10:00 am
Ticketed - $35
Located in the Seward West neighborhood, the houses of the Milwaukee Avenue Historic District were built between 1884 and 1890 for Northern European immigrant families who worked in the nearby Milwaukee Railroad yards and industrial shops. By the end of World War II, many of the homes had deteriorated, and a Minneapolis urban renewal plan in the 1970s called for demolishing approximately 70% of the neighborhood’s houses, including all of those on Milwaukee Avenue.Neighborhood opposition successfully halted the plan, leading instead to the rehabilitation of 34 of the original 46 houses and the transformation of the narrow street into a landscaped, pedestrian- and bike-friendly walkway. Today, Milwaukee Avenue’s distinctive architecture and intimate, human-scaled design create a character that stands in striking contrast to the surrounding neighborhood.
8:30 am
11:30 am
Ticketed - $40
Learn about the historic African-American Rondo Community, anti-displacement work being led by Rondo Community Land Trust and members of the Rondo Roundtable, and efforts to establish an African-American Cultural Enterprise District anchored by a land bridge over Interstate 94. Rondo was the beating heart of the Twin Cities African-American community and home to thriving businesses, religious organizations, and social clubs, however, the economic and social diversity of the area was upended when the construction of Interstate 94 began in 1956. Approximately 600 homes and 300 businesses were razed to build the interstate, leaving the community torn in half and forever damaged by the destruction of the cultural and economic center of the African-American Community in Saint Paul. Following the construction of I-94, the Rondo community has experienced a 48% decline in home ownership, a 61% decline in population, and an estimated 157 million dollars of home equity lost from demolished homes in the I-94 corridor, and community is now experiencing a period of gentrification and on-going displacement. In response to these challenges stemming from historic planning decisions, community organizations including the Rondo Community Land Trust and Reconnect Rondo were formed to help preserve affordability, mitigate ongoing displacement, and create an African American Cultural Enterprise District anchored by a land bridge over the interstate that was built through the neighborhood Their efforts are helping challenge the status-quo and driving innovative city planning and community development. An architectural history survey of a potential Rondo Historic District is also underway.
10:15 am
12:00 pm
Ticketed - $35
Archaeology is a vital, yet often overlooked, component of historic preservation, particularly at the local level. This session takes attendees behind the scenes of a professional archaeology lab to see how artifacts move from field collection to lab analysis and how that work informs preservation decisions. Participants will tour 106 Group’s archaeology lab in Saint Paul, where presenters will share case studies demonstrating how archaeology strengthens heritage preservation and regulatory compliance, deepens community narratives, and expands opportunities for public engagement. Attendees will also gain practical strategies for incorporating archaeology into their own local preservation practice.
10:15 am
11:45 am
Ticketed - $25
Minneapolis has a deep LGBTQ+ history, with impacts and influence extending far beyond the city. This in-person walking tour will stop at sites throughout the Gateway District and downtown Minneapolis. The area is deeply entangled with LGBTQ+ people’s stories and place in the world. While some locations still exist, many don't: from cafes, bars, and hotels, to bathhouses and parks. Discover how queer identity was shaped in these spaces and in the face of industry, discrimination, sex, urban renewal, the gay rights movement, and AIDS. Learn about how queer people from Minneapolis have made an impact across the country.
1:15 pm
4:15 pm
Ticketed - $45
In 1907, William Purcell and George Feick, Jr., a structural engineer, formed an architectural firm in Minneapolis. George Elmslie joined in 1909 after 20 years as a draftsman in Louis Sullivan’s Chicago office. Feick left in 1913, and the firm became Purcell & Elmslie, which operated until 1921. Over 300 buildings were constructed by the firm across the country, with a strong concentration in Minneapolis. Both Purcell and Elmslie were contemporaries of Frank Lloyd Wright, with Elmslie having worked alongside Wright as a draftsman in Sullivan’s office, and Purcell also briefly serving as a draftsman for Sullivan.The tour will visit three houses designed by Purcell & Elmslie, all located within blocks of one another near Lake of the Isles.
8:30 am
11:30 am
Ticketed - $40
Originally envisioned in 1883 by landscape architect H.W.S. Cleveland, the Minneapolis Grand Rounds is the nation’s most complete interconnected urban park system. Spanning more than 50 miles and encompassing the shorelines of seven lakes, three creeks, and the Mississippi River, the Grand Rounds has evolved over the past 140 years into a defining feature of Minneapolis’s identity.This tour will highlight several distinct elements of the Grand Rounds—including lakes, creeks, and waterfalls—and cover topics such as Cleveland’s original vision, Theodore Wirth’s early-1900s implementation, the major mid-20th-century redesign, and present-day planning efforts that balance historic preservation with environmental needs. Participants will learn from today’s planners, enjoy views of the Grand Rounds from the comfort of a tour bus, and have the opportunity to stretch their legs in the park system.
7/22/2026 5:00 PM
7:30 pm
Ticketed Event - $35
Looking for a fun and casual way to kick off your first night at FORUM? Join colleagues at the Wednesday evening Dine-Around at Midtown Global Market, a vibrant food hall housed in the historic 1928 Sears, Roebuck & Co. building. Repurposed in 2006, the market is now a thriving cultural and economic hub, home to 45 businesses representing over 22 cultures, where local entrepreneurs serve up a world of flavors under one roof.
Attendees can purchase dinner from a wide array of international cuisine, explore locally made crafts, and enjoy a space set aside for first-night networking. Fun rotating programming will also be offered:
This relaxed, flavorful event is the perfect way to meet fellow FORUM attendees. Advanced registration is required, and shuttles will run to and from the venue, boarding outside the main conference hotel entrance beginning at 4:30 pm.
*Meals and drinks not included outside of food demos and tastings.
7/23/2026 5:30 PM
8:00 pm
Ticketed Event - $50
Meet fellow preservationists where art and architecture intersect at the Pillsbury A Mill. Opened in 1881 as the world’s largest flour mill and a centerpiece of Minneapolis’s historic milling district, the building has been thoughtfully adapted into an affordable housing community for artists, honoring its industrial heritage while supporting creative work and community living. Enjoy light refreshments and a guided tour, exploring how historic industrial spaces can be reimagined for contemporary use.
This is a paid ticketed event that requires advanced registration. Shuttles will run to and from the venue, with boarding outside the main conference hotel entrance.
Includes appetizers and two drink tickets.
7/24/2026 8:30 AM
10:00 am
Included with Full Conference Registration
Join NAPC as we officially kick off FORUM 2026: Preservation Currents. We will gather at the conference hotel for a program featuring Shelley Buck, President of the Dakota-led nonprofit Owámniyomni Okhódayapi. Shelley is an enrolled member of the Prairie Island Indian Community and served 12 years on the Prairie Island Tribal Council, including six years as president.
Featuring the theme, Owámniyomni ed Dakod wićoh’aŋ makoće kiŋ wóyutećapi (Restoring Culture & Environment at Owámniyomni), Shelley will explore how Owámniyomni Okhódayapi is transforming Minneapolis’ most iconic riverfront location, St. Anthony Falls, from a desecrated industrial site into a living monument that says, “This is Dakota land.” The Owámniyomni project will restore native plantings, uplift Dakota land management and cultural practices, and rebuild connections to the water. Shelley Buck, president of the Dakota-led nonprofit, shares how this groundbreaking land reclamation project is challenging preservation policy and reminding us all what it means to treat the land as a relative rather than a resource.
Shelley holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Accounting, a Master of Arts in Sports Management, and a Master of Jurisprudence in Tribal Indian Law and represents District 47A in the Minnesota House of Representatives.
Includes light refreshments.
7/24/2026 6:00 PM
9:00 pm
Included with Full Conference Registration
Join us for an evening of immersive history and fun at the Mill City Museum, built within the dramatic ruins of the Washburn A Mill, once the largest flour mill in the world. The museum showcases how this industrial landmark has been preserved and reimagined for new generations.Enjoy networking and light refreshments while exploring all museum exhibits, including interactive displays on Minneapolis’s rise as the “Flour Milling Capital of the World.” Guests also have access to the Ruin Courtyard, with the preserved mill walls providing a striking backdrop for the evening. Take in spectacular views of the Mississippi River, St. Anthony Falls, Stone Arch Bridge, and the Minneapolis skyline from this historic riverfront location. Shuttles will run to and from the museum during the event, with boarding outside the main conference hotel entrance.
Includes heavy hors d'oeuvres and two drink tickets.
Bring a Guest tickets available for purchase.
7/25/2026 11:45 AM
1:15 pm
Ticketed Event - $50
On Saturday, July 25, we welcome Jeanelle Austin, Executive Director of Rise and Remember, who engages the work of racial justice through memorial preservation, as our featured speaker for the FORUM Saturday Luncheon. Jeanelle will present on the topic of “Prophetic Story-Keepers: Why Community-Based Conservation Works as a Social Movement”. In response to the death of George Floyd in 2020, neighbors organized to preserve the organic memorial and protest site as a form of protest. Six years later, the site still exists and is still maintained by neighbors. Additionally, in the wake of the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, more neighbors joined in this work based on their proximity to a memorial site. This talk will explore why the efforts to conserve and preserve a protest memorial evolve into a sacred, volunteer-based vocation of story-keeping for one's community. It will also examine ways the industry can learn from organic social movements that yield community-based art conservation efforts.
In addition to serving as Executive Director of Rise and Remember, Jeanelle earned an MDiv in Ethics and an MA in Intercultural Studies from Fuller Theological Seminary. Her recent honors include the 2021 Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference Innovation Hub Award, Community Champion Award from the Urban League Twin Cities, the Women of Courage Award from the Emmett Till Legacy Foundation in honor of Mamie Till-Mobley, and Activist in Residence at the Center for Work and Democracy at Arizona State University. In 2022, she was honored as a Community Visionary for the Liberal Arts Engagement Hub at the University of Minnesota and a Leonard I. Beerman Foundation Fellow. Jeanelle consults and speaks nationally on various topics as they intersect with race in America.
Includes plated lunch.
7/25/2026 5:00 PM
7:00 pm
Included with Full Conference Registration
Join friends and new acquaintances at the conference hotel on Saturday evening for a light reception and celebration of NAPC’s Commission Excellence Award recipients and FORUM Scholars. Short videos highlighting the outstanding work of local commissions and Lifetime Achievement Award winners from across the country will inspire you to apply lessons from FORUM in your own community. Stay until the end to see which city will host FORUM 2028! This event is included with a Full Conference registration, so come celebrate and support this year’s award winners! Two drink tickets and light refreshments will be included in the reception ahead of the Commission Excellence Awards.
Includes light appetizers and two drink tickets.
Bring a Guest tickets available for purchase.
