The National Preservations Awards are made possible by the Driehaus Foundation. To learn more, visit our Partners page.

Join this year’s Opening Session to kick-off your conference experience! In addition to orienting you to all that PastForward and the host city of New Orleans have to offer, the session will also leave you inspired to strengthen your preservation skills and techniques over the next two days.

To rejuvenate your spirit, hear inspiring stories about individuals, nonprofit organizations, public agencies, and corporations bringing new life and meaning to their communities through the power of preservation during this year’s National Preservation Awards.

In addition to serving as the National Trust’s annual membership meeting for the purpose of electing new members to the Board of Trustees, this jam-packed session will feature Louisiana Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser sharing his enthusiasm for heritage tourism which is fueled by the highly successful Louisiana Main Street program, and the state’s tax credit for rehabilitation.

Finally hear from one of the biggest supporters of historic preservation in Congress today, U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy will share how the federal Historic Tax Credits are revitalizing older neighborhoods and communities economically, socially, and sustainably across the country. He will also provide advocacy advice as a new Congress heads into “the super bowl of tax.”