Keeping History Above Water: Looking Back, Moving Forward

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Keeping History Above Water: Looking Back, Moving Forward

Returning to Newport on October 21-23, 2026, this symposium leverages a decade of heritage resilience advocacy and action from 11 successful national and international KHAW events and collaborations with host communities.

"The Game of Floods" board game with participants

Registration open

Register before September 1, 2026 to receive the early-bird rate.

Keeping History Above Water: Looking Back, Moving Forward sessions will share current barriers and opportunities, messaging and community involvement, and project impact results, and feature representatives from World Monuments Fund, Stone Living Lab, Strawbery Banke Museum, the Tulane School of Architecture and Built Environment, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Wednesday evening will feature a keynote presented by Elizabeth Rush, author of Pulitzer prize-finalist Rising: Dispatches from the New American Shore, followed by a reception.

Sessions will be eligible for credits with the American Institute of Architects Continuing Education System (AIA CES). Certificates of attendance will be provided to attendees seeking credits, and completion of the program will be reported to the AIA CES for AIA members. The accreditation process is generously provided by the Historic Preservation Education Foundation.

Conference Schedule:

Wednesday • Sessions: 12:30-3pm • (Optional) Opening Reception & Keynote: 5:30-7:30pm
Thursday & Friday • Sessions: 9:00am-3:00pm • Offsite sessions: 3:30pm

Program available here

REGISTER HERE

Staying in Newport for the symposium?

We’re partnering with the Wyndham Newport Hotel for accommodations.

To reserve your room at a special rate, please follow this link. Alternatively, you can visit the hotel’s website and enter the code 102126NEW or call 401-236-2020, select option 1, and reference the Newport Restoration Foundation. This price is only available before October 1, 2026.

Getting to Bazarsky Hall & Rough Point Museum

Bazarsky Lecture Hall is located inside the O’Hare Academic Building at Salve University (36 Ochre Point, Newport, RI 02840).

The keynote and opening reception will take place at Rough Point Museum (680 Bellevue Ave.)

There is limited parking onsite at Salve Regina University.

We encourage you to take public transportation to attend the symposium (there is a free hop-on hop-off service for Route 67). Information about city municipal lots is available here.

Explore Newport by Bike

Make the most of your time in Newport by seeing the city on two wheels. Our friends at Bike Newport offer convenient bike rentals for getting around town. Proceeds support Bike Newport’s work to make bicycling accessible, safe, and inviting for all.

Learn more and rent a bike here.

When in Newport

The City by the Sea is a cultural destination year-round. Here is a list of suggestions of what to explore (and what not to miss), thanks to our friends at DiscoverNewport.