Newport, RI, July 9,2026– The Newport Restoration Foundation is announcing the return to Newport of its nationally recognized convening Keeping History Above Water™ on the 10th anniversary of the inaugural conference. Keeping History Above Water: Looking Back, Moving Forward will gather historic preservationists, policy planners, and community leaders for a symposium exploring a decade of successes and lessons learned from 11 successful national and international Keeping History Above Water events and collaborations with host communities.
“This symposium is ten years in the making. We are excited to create a forum for practitioners and experts to inspire action for cultural heritage resiliency in the wake of climate change,” said Hilary Fagan, Executive Director of the Newport Restoration Foundation. “NRF’s historic homes are part of a global community threatened by the increasing impacts of rising sea levels and inundation events. We are pleased to take this opportunity to gather alongside colleagues and to share our community-centered work preserving and restoring the architectural and cultural heritage of Newport, while advancing the legacy of our visionary founder, Doris Duke.”
Held from October 21-23, 2026 the symposium includes opportunities for participants to hear from nation-wide experts in the field of climate change resilience and stewarding cultural heritage, along with hands-on demonstrations and site visits to learn from innovative resiliency projects throughout the city of Newport.
The symposium begins on Wednesday, October 21st with sessions highlighting the importance of the historic trades in supporting climate-change resiliency. The evening continues with a reception and keynote address.
Thursday and Friday sessions address planning efforts with creative, action-oriented projects focused on historic resources impacted by sea level rise, recurrent flooding, and climate change. Speakers will 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.
Early bird registration is now open. Learn more at https://www.newportrestoration.org/programs-initiatives/khaw-symposium/
Sponsorship opportunities are available to partner with NRF on this work. Please contact Sue Battle, Development & Donor Relations Manager at sbattle@newportrestoration.org or by calling 401 849-7300 ext. 102.
