(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry E. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds were joined by Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs Director Mary Cownie during their regular weekly press conference today to encourage Iowans to attend the third annual Preserve Iowa Summit from June 25-27 in Winterset.
"As many of you know, I'm a strong supporter of Iowa history and the Preserve Iowa Summit is the premier statewide annual conference for historic preservation in Iowa," Branstad said. "The summit highlights the economic development and quality of life benefits our communities receive through the preservation of historic properties. I invite all Iowans interested in our state's history to attend the summit."
"The summit will inspire Iowans to discover, preserve and enhance their communities' unique history and sense of place," Reynolds said. "I want to acknowledge the work Winterset and Madison County have done to preserve and enhance their historical and cultural assets. Studios and galleries occupy rehabilitated historical buildings, and the John Wayne Birthplace Home and Museum and the Bridges of Madison County continue to draw interest from people around the world. These and other attractions in the area will make this summit an exciting event, so I encourage Iowans to register today."
Coordinated by the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs' State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and the Madison County Historic Preservation Commission, the "2015 Preserve Iowa Summit: The Power of Preservation" will be June 25-27, 2015, in Winterset. Iowans and others may register for the summit at www.preserveiowasummit.com.
The summit is designed for all Iowans interested in history, and the sessions will particularly be of interest for local government, civic and community leaders, chambers of commerce, developers and architects, owners of historic properties, preservation professionals and volunteers, and other Iowans invested in community development.
"We are pleased and grateful to partner with the Madison County Historic Preservation Commission to present this summit," Cownie said. "Attendees will have access to excellent content related to community development that impacts local quality of life. Hopefully they will return home with new ideas and inspiration to make impactful changes in their own communities. This is going to be a terrific summit and I join Governor Branstad and Lieutenant Governor Reynolds in encouraging and inviting Iowans to register and attend."
Keynote speakers are Ed McMahon of the Urban Land Institute in Washington, D.C., Bonnie McDonald, president of Landmarks Illinois, and Underground Railroad authority Matthew Pinsker. Preservation Iowa will present its "Preservation at its Best" awards, and preservationists from across the state will share "Three-Minute Success Stories."
The summit will also feature an all-day Underground Railroad (UGRR) workshop, including a tour of the historic Hitchcock House near Lewis. Registration is included as part of the summit, but individuals not attending the summit may register for the UGRR workshop separately.
In addition, attendees can experience "parklets" on Winterset's Courthouse Square, built by Iowa architecture firms. These innovative temporary parks re-purpose parking spaces for seating, planting, art installations and conversation so people can enjoy the local scene.
Rich Mills of the Madison County Bike Club and Leo Landis and Jess Rundlett of the State Historical Museum of Iowa will host a 13-mile round-trip bicycle ride from the Cutler-Donahue Covered Bridge in Winterset's City Park to Pammel State Park. Advance registration and bike helmets are required.
During the summit, a State Nominations Review Committee meeting will be held to review nominations to the National Register of Historic Places. The committee will consider Winterset's Courthouse Square, a post-World War II school in Cedar Rapids, Manning's downtown and many other interesting Iowa properties. The committee meeting is free and open to the public.
The summit is supported by Preservation Iowa, AIA Iowa, Madison County, the City of Winterset, Madison County Development Group, Madison County Chamber of Commerce, Madison County Historical Society and the community of Winterset. It is funded in part by the National Park Service, U. S. Department of the Interior.
Detailed information about the summit, sessions, speakers, programs and registration is available at www.preserveiowasummit.com. Early Bird Conference Registration runs until May 15, 2015, and offers $30 off the registration fee.
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The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs and its three divisions - the Iowa Arts Council, Produce Iowa-State Office of Media Production and the State Historical Society of Iowa - empower Iowa to build and sustain culturally vibrant communities by connecting Iowans to the people, places and points of pride that define our state. The department's work enables Iowa to be recognized as a state that fosters creativity and serves as a catalyst for innovation where the stories of Iowa are preserved and communicated to connect past, present and future generations. www.culturalaffairs.org.
