Historic Preservation Alliance of Arkansas

"The Heritage Connection"

Eureka Springs

May 14-16, 2009

The 2009 Arkansas Preservation Conference, hosted by the Historic Preservation Alliance of Arkansas and the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program, explored the roles of cultural and heritage tourism in historic preservation planning and design and on investigating how they ensure the future of the past. Held in Eureka Springs, one of the top arts and cultural destinations in the South, the 2009 conference took a two-track approach in examining best practices of heritage tourism and the success of Eureka Springs in building a local economy founded on heritage and historic preservation.

Track 1 — Preservation and the Economy of Culture — Featured experts on heritage tourism and preservation. Panelists and speakers addressed such topics as making your town visitor-ready for heritage tourism, using historic fabric to promote heritage tourism, and marketing for historic and cultural sites.

Track 2 — The “Back Story” — Gave conference attendees a behind-the-scenes look at the history and mystique of Eureka Springs. A series of talks and tours followed the history of Eureka Springs from the town’s early days as a 19th century village settled around the springs, through the rise and decline of Eureka Springs as a healing spa destination to the popularity of Eureka as an attraction for automobile tourists, and its rebirth as an arts community.

Preservation Crustaceans, the annual Heritage Month event, moved to Eureka Springs as the closing reception for the Preservation Conference on Friday. Attendees enjoyed crawfish and all the fixin’s at beautiful Victorian Manor, just steps away from one of Eureka’s largest arts events — the White Street Art Walk.

CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS FOR PROFESSIONALS
All Preservation Conferences  offer continuing education credits to related professional groups. CEU forms are available at the conference for professionals upon completion of the sessions. Please contact Vanessa Norton at 501.372-4757 or vnorton@ preservearkansas.org for any questions relating to continuing education credits.
For Architects — CAMP— 6 hours; Track 1—6 hours; and Track 2 -— 6 hours (maximum credit per registrant 12 hours) For Real Estate Licensees — CAMP PLUS Track 1 or Track 2 — 6 hours

LODGING — Conference attendees are responsible for making their own accommodation arrangements. 2009 Attendees stayed at the following two locations in Eureka Springs:

Conference Hotels:

Basin Park Hotel                                                    1886 Crescent Hotel and Spa

12 Spring Street                                                        75 Prospect Avenue
Eureka Springs, AR 72632                                        Eureka Springs, AR 72632
1-800-903-4940                                                        1-800-903-4940
www.basinpark.com                                                   www.crescent-hotel.com

Click here for 2009's full conference schedule and a printable registration form.