Engaging the Public with Preservation: 50 Years of Lessons
About this Session
In 2026, stewards of historic sites face shrinking budgets and a public discourse clouded by misinformation. As the 250th approaches, preservationists are revisiting 1976 to understand what worked–and what didn’t–for public engagement and historical interpretation.
Part-presentation, part-workshop, this session observes how the field of historic preservation has evolved from 1976 to 2026 to understand where preservation was situated during the Bicentennial and where it is today for the Semiquincentennial.
The presentation tracks the evolution of language and the movement from instructive to affective interpretations of history from 1976 to 2026. In the workshop portion, attendees will discuss the effectiveness of Bicentennial-era methods of interpretation and public engagement at historic sites to consider what elements can be adapted for 2026.
Attendees are invited to share developments at their historic sites to explore questions such as: What are the strengths of digital versus analog tools for public engagement? How did the Bicentennial shape the historical narratives preservation practitioners work with today? How do we execute the 250th using the tools, structures and resources already at hand?
