Excited to celebrate your preservation journey? Looking to elevate your historic preservation advocacy? Want to encourage preservation at the municipal level? Hoping to promote cultural heritage tourism, or seeking helpful historic homeowner tips?
Join preservationists, advocates, and community stakeholders at the 2026 West Virginia Historic Preservation Conference. This three-day event offers opportunities to engage, inform, and inspire through interactive tours, hands-on demonstrations, and thought-provoking discussions.
Join preservationists, advocates, and community stakeholders at the 2026 West Virginia Historic Preservation Conference. This three-day event offers opportunities to engage, inform, and inspire through interactive tours, hands-on demonstrations, and thought-provoking discussions.
Full Conference Registration is $180.
Daily rate of $35.
Special discounted rates available for PAWV members!
Contact [email protected] or call 304-642-0693 to register by check or to verify your membership and request discount codes for the Zeffy registration portal.
Daily rate of $35.
Special discounted rates available for PAWV members!
Contact [email protected] or call 304-642-0693 to register by check or to verify your membership and request discount codes for the Zeffy registration portal.
Conference Schedule
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Tuesday, May 12, 2026
3:00pm - Registration Opens at the Country Inn Location: 110 S. Washington St., Berkeley Springs, WV 25411 4:00 - 6:00 pm - Self-guided exploration of the Town of Bath 6:00 - 8:00 pm - Opening Reception at Historic Country Inn Kick off the conference with a special and fun evening in Berkeley Springs!
Diamond Sponsor
Platinum Sponsor
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Wednesday, May 13, 2026
8:00 - 9:15 am - Networking Events
Option 1) Historic Landmarks Commissioners Networking Breakfast
Ticketed add-on activity - $10
Start the day with a networking breakfast designed specifically for members of Historic Landmarks Commissions. This informal gathering offers an opportunity to connect with peers, share experiences, and discuss common challenges in local preservation work. Representatives from the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and PAWV will be on hand to answer questions, provide resources, and build stronger partnerships with local commissions working to protect historic places across the state.
Location: Washington/Fairfax Room, Cacapon Resort, 818 Cacapon Lodge Dr, Berkeley Springs, WV
Option 2) Morning Coffee Networking Event
Ticketed add-on activity - $10
Start the day by connecting with fellow conference attendees during this informal coffee networking session. Designed to encourage conversation and new connections, this gathering offers a relaxed setting to meet preservation professionals, community leaders, and advocates from across the region. Whether you’re looking to exchange ideas, spark collaborations, or simply get to know others who share a passion for historic places, this casual meet-and-greet provides the perfect opportunity to start the conversation over coffee.
Location: Fairfax Coffee, 23 Fairfax St, Berkeley Springs, WV 25411
Option 3) Exhibitor Space
Location: Lobby, Cacapon Resort, 818 Cacapon Lodge Dr, Berkeley Springs, WV
9:30 am - 11:45 am
Option 1) Advanced Cemetery Preservation Workshop
Join Joni Morris, Cemetery Preservation Expert, to learn about Appalachian burial history and customs, as well as how to identify, document, clean, and repair gravestones during this advanced preservation methodology workshop, which will take place in the Greenway Cemetery with veteran burials dating back to the 19th century.
Location: Greenway Cemetery, 828 Greenway Drive, Berkeley Springs, WV
Option 2) Historic Preservation Tour of the Star Theatre
Enjoy an in-depth historic preservation tour of the Star Theater. Learn the unique history of this building, which was originally built in 1916 as an automobile garage before being transformed into a theatre and telephone exchange. While exploring the building, hear the amazing story of how Jeanne Mozier and Jack Soronen saved and restored the theater, and learn about current efforts to maintain this historic treasure.
Location: Star Theatre, 49 N. Washington St, Berkeley Springs, WV
Option 3) Log Cabin Restoration Workshop, Part 1
This is part 1 of a log cabin restoration workshop led by two experts and friends: Moss Rudley, Superintendent of the National Park Service’s Historic Preservation Training Center and Joshua Adamo of Adamo Building Arts, a historic preservation specialist, trainer, and general contractor.. During the workshop, they will revisit work previously done by the NPS in 2013 and analyze the methodology and maintenance from two different approaches: the federal government and private sector.
Location: CCC Shelter, Cacapon Resort, 818 Cacapon Lodge Dr, Berkeley Springs, WV
Option 4) Walking in Their Footsteps: Genealogy as a Guide to Heritage Travel Workshop
*In order to make the most of this workshop, please bring a laptop with you.
Heritage travel is most impactful when visitors feel a personal connection to the people who shaped historic sites. This hands-on workshop with professional genealogist, Kaitlyn Pauley, teaches participants how to apply genealogical records—census schedules, land deeds, church registers, migration documents—to create heritage travel experiences such as walking tours, driving routes, digital maps, and interpretive signage. Using West Virginia and Appalachian case studies, participants will actively engage in exercises that demonstrate the step-by-step process of linking genealogical context to historic places. Ethical interpretation, descendant engagement, and collaboration with preservation and tourism professionals are emphasized throughout.
Location: Rumsey Room, Cacapon Resort, 818 Cacapon Lodge Dr, Berkeley Springs, WV
12:00 - 2:00 pm - Luncheon & Opening Plenary
All conference attendees will be welcome to a buffet style lunch at Cacapon Resort. Following lunch, Erin Barnes, President & CEO of Main Street America will provide an opening plenary focused on the Main Street America 250 Initiative - an effort to map history as it happened in our Main Streets.
Location: Washington/Fairfax Room, Cacapon Resort State Park
2:15 - 5:15 pm
Option 1) Guided Walking Tour of Paw Paw and historic Paw Paw Tunnel on the C&O Canal
Ticketed add-on activity - $10 (Benefits C&O Canal Trust)
This walking tour consists of two parts. The first part is a walking tour of Paw Paw’s Historic Properties with stops at up to seven buildings individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places or deemed eligible for individual listing. The second part of the tour is a visit to the C&O Canal Paw Paw Tunnel located less than a mile from Paw Paw, WV in Maryland. An expert on the Canal’s history, arranged through the C&O Canal Trust, will provide a guided tour of the Tunnel. Walking tours are a great way to tap into the growing sector of heritage tourism by sharing stories with visitors while also bringing them into local businesses. Participants will leave with an understanding of the ties between storytelling and the built environment and how it can aid in garnering support and interest in historic preservation while furthering economic growth.
Location: Meet outside of the Cacapon Resort gift shop to carpool to Paw Paw.
Option 2) Guided Tour of Greenway Cemetery & Basic Cemetery Restoration Workshop
Join David O’Connell (Friends of Greenway) for a historical tour of the Greenway Cemetery - a 25-acre, historic burial ground in Berkeley Springs, WV, containing over 8,000 interments dating back to the late 1800s, including Civil War Union General Simon Forrester Barstow. Following this walking tour, Joni Morris, cemetery preservation specialist, will be joined by Lyle & Theresa Rush, Addison Reese, and Elizabeth Nicholson (all representing the Jefferson County Historic Landmarks Commission) to review basic maintenance techniques for historic cemeteries. They will also share how the commission works in the county to save historic cemeteries.
Location: Greenway Cemetery, 828 Greenway Drive, Berkeley Springs, WV
Option 3) Educational Sessions at Cacapon Resort, 818 Cacapon Lodge Dr, Berkeley Springs, WV
2:15 - 3:30 - Educational Session Choices
Early Influences of West Virginia Log Architecture
Historian Gerald Milnes will talk about over thirty years of research and photography. There has been much controversy about Old World influences on American log architecture. There has been no substantial field work done in the early settled region of West Virginia. I will trace aspects of log buildings to Old World regions, based on my discoveries. I concentrate on the Eastern Allegheny Mountain and Potomac Highland area, the “Old Frontier.” Additionally, research in the Delaware Valley, trips to European sites, and a thorough search of the literature, will inform the presentation. My research will result in a book which is slated for release in February and will shed new light on the subject for the permanent record.
Location: Panhandle Room at Cacapon Resort
Connecting People to Historic Places using Genealogical Context
Historic preservation relies on understanding and communicating the significance of places, yet many historic buildings, districts, and cultural landscapes are interpreted without fully identifying the people who lived, worked, worshiped, or were buried there. Genealogical research provides critical contextual information that enhances preservation planning, interpretation, and public engagement by restoring human stories to historic places. Join Kaitlyn Pauley, professional geneaologist, in this session where she will demonstrate how genealogical records—such as census schedules, land and tax records, church registers, probate files, and migration documentation—can be used to connect individuals and families to specific sites over time. By incorporating genealogical context, preservation professionals can strengthen interpretive narratives, support statements of significance, and foster deeper community and descendant engagement. Using case studies relevant to West Virginia and the Appalachian region, this presentation will show how genealogy can be applied to historic sites, rural landscapes, cemeteries, and historic districts to improve interpretation, encourage heritage tourism, and build public support for preservation efforts.
Location: Rumsey Room, Cacapon Resort
Understanding Multi-Property Documentation Surveys
The Multiple Property Documentation (MPD) is a tool used by the National Park Service to assist in nominating resources to the National Register that have a shared history or similar characteristics to one another. These can be resources across the state, throughout a county, or even in one town. An MPD in itself does not nominate a resource to the National Register, but it provides important background information and justification for nominating a resource. Utilizing MPDs can be an efficient way of nominating multiple resources to the National Register without having to research and write duplicative information. In recent years, West Virginia has produced Multiple Property Documentations that helped nominate colonial-era fort sites, New Deal stone walls, Green Book properties, and Mail Pouch Tobacco barns to the National Register. Despite the benefits, the concept of a MPD is often misunderstood, which limits its use. Cody Straley of the WV State Historic Preservation will explain the purpose of MPDs and, using recent case studies, discuss how one may be developed and utilized for National Register nominations.
Location: Morgan Room, Cacapon Resort State Park
3:45 - 5:00 Educational Session Choices
Log Cabin Restoration Workshop, Part 2
This is part 2 of a log cabin restoration workshop led by two experts and friends: Moss Rudley, Superintendent of the National Park Service’s Historic Preservation Training Center and Joshua Adamo of Adamo Building Arts, a historic preservation specialist, trainer, and general contractor.. During the workshop, they will revisit work previously done by the NPS in 2013 and analyze the methodology and maintenance from two different approaches: the federal government and private sector.
Location: CCC Shelter, Cacapon Resort, 818 Cacapon Lodge Dr, Berkeley Springs, WV
Preserving the Past, Connecting the Community: A Digital Solution for Historic Districts
Layne Thompson, Senior VP of JMA Resources, will introduce an emerging technology solution designed to build a rich, collaborative interactive community and transform how local governments manage historic districts. Built with advanced Geographic Information Systems capabilities, the platform enhances community building, collaborative district management, and historic preservation through an integrated suite of tools - including interactive mapping, shared discussion boards, local resources, and community posting features that strengthen communication, participation and teamwork. Attendees will learn how our product supports critical needs for local historic districts by improving information accessibility, encouraging real-time collaboration, and inspiring shared collaborative workflows, implementation considerations, and measurable benefits demonstrated through pilot town results. By combining modern technology with accessible, cooperative engagement tools, our product delivers a scalable, fully integrated solution that empowers organizations to work smarter - uniting communities, facilitating collaboration, and strengthening the collective ability to achieve meaningful outcomes, sustainable historic preservation.
Location: Rumsey Room, Cacapon Resort
Seminar on Gov. Kump’s public education legacy and the Kump House Centennial
Join Dr. Heather Biola to learn more about the Kump Education Center’s centennial celebration of the historic Kump House in Elkins, WV, and the history and efforts to adaptively reuse the house.. In 1925 Edna and Guy Kump moved into their 26-room home with six children of their own and space for eight of Guy’s nieces and nephews. When H. G. Kump ran for governor in 1932, the county-unit school system was his main priority. Several Kump family members became teachers, and daughter Mary Gamble taught in US military dependent schools all over the world. At her death she bequeathed historic Kump House to the City of Elkins in 2008. Since that time, Kump grandchildren, great grandchildren, and community volunteers have raised funds to help restore the historic house. Now it is one of the best domestic examples of twentieth century architecture, innovation, and family life built during the “American Century.” Nevertheless, in 2026 respect for historic preservation and public education are endangered in West Virginia and the United States of America.
Location: Morgan Room, Cacapon Resort
6:00 - 8:00 pm - Dinner Options
Option 1) Private dinner with PAWV Board of Directors & Staff
Ticketed add-on activity - $50
Join members of the PAWV Board of Directors and staff for a special dinner of Appalachian-creative comfort food in the mountains of Berkeley Springs. Enjoy a relaxing sunset overlooking the amazing Cacapon River.
Location: Panorama Public House, 3299 Cacapon Rd, Berkeley Springs, WV
Option 2) Dinner on your own at a restaurant of your choice.
9:00 pm - Fireside Fun at the Lake
Roast smores and enjoy views of Cacapon Lake from the historic Boat Dock Shelter constructed in the 1930s by the CCC!
Location: Boat Dock Shelter, Cacapon Resort
8:00 - 9:15 am - Networking Events
Option 1) Historic Landmarks Commissioners Networking Breakfast
Ticketed add-on activity - $10
Start the day with a networking breakfast designed specifically for members of Historic Landmarks Commissions. This informal gathering offers an opportunity to connect with peers, share experiences, and discuss common challenges in local preservation work. Representatives from the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and PAWV will be on hand to answer questions, provide resources, and build stronger partnerships with local commissions working to protect historic places across the state.
Location: Washington/Fairfax Room, Cacapon Resort, 818 Cacapon Lodge Dr, Berkeley Springs, WV
Option 2) Morning Coffee Networking Event
Ticketed add-on activity - $10
Start the day by connecting with fellow conference attendees during this informal coffee networking session. Designed to encourage conversation and new connections, this gathering offers a relaxed setting to meet preservation professionals, community leaders, and advocates from across the region. Whether you’re looking to exchange ideas, spark collaborations, or simply get to know others who share a passion for historic places, this casual meet-and-greet provides the perfect opportunity to start the conversation over coffee.
Location: Fairfax Coffee, 23 Fairfax St, Berkeley Springs, WV 25411
Option 3) Exhibitor Space
Location: Lobby, Cacapon Resort, 818 Cacapon Lodge Dr, Berkeley Springs, WV
9:30 am - 11:45 am
Option 1) Advanced Cemetery Preservation Workshop
Join Joni Morris, Cemetery Preservation Expert, to learn about Appalachian burial history and customs, as well as how to identify, document, clean, and repair gravestones during this advanced preservation methodology workshop, which will take place in the Greenway Cemetery with veteran burials dating back to the 19th century.
Location: Greenway Cemetery, 828 Greenway Drive, Berkeley Springs, WV
Option 2) Historic Preservation Tour of the Star Theatre
Enjoy an in-depth historic preservation tour of the Star Theater. Learn the unique history of this building, which was originally built in 1916 as an automobile garage before being transformed into a theatre and telephone exchange. While exploring the building, hear the amazing story of how Jeanne Mozier and Jack Soronen saved and restored the theater, and learn about current efforts to maintain this historic treasure.
Location: Star Theatre, 49 N. Washington St, Berkeley Springs, WV
Option 3) Log Cabin Restoration Workshop, Part 1
This is part 1 of a log cabin restoration workshop led by two experts and friends: Moss Rudley, Superintendent of the National Park Service’s Historic Preservation Training Center and Joshua Adamo of Adamo Building Arts, a historic preservation specialist, trainer, and general contractor.. During the workshop, they will revisit work previously done by the NPS in 2013 and analyze the methodology and maintenance from two different approaches: the federal government and private sector.
Location: CCC Shelter, Cacapon Resort, 818 Cacapon Lodge Dr, Berkeley Springs, WV
Option 4) Walking in Their Footsteps: Genealogy as a Guide to Heritage Travel Workshop
*In order to make the most of this workshop, please bring a laptop with you.
Heritage travel is most impactful when visitors feel a personal connection to the people who shaped historic sites. This hands-on workshop with professional genealogist, Kaitlyn Pauley, teaches participants how to apply genealogical records—census schedules, land deeds, church registers, migration documents—to create heritage travel experiences such as walking tours, driving routes, digital maps, and interpretive signage. Using West Virginia and Appalachian case studies, participants will actively engage in exercises that demonstrate the step-by-step process of linking genealogical context to historic places. Ethical interpretation, descendant engagement, and collaboration with preservation and tourism professionals are emphasized throughout.
Location: Rumsey Room, Cacapon Resort, 818 Cacapon Lodge Dr, Berkeley Springs, WV
12:00 - 2:00 pm - Luncheon & Opening Plenary
All conference attendees will be welcome to a buffet style lunch at Cacapon Resort. Following lunch, Erin Barnes, President & CEO of Main Street America will provide an opening plenary focused on the Main Street America 250 Initiative - an effort to map history as it happened in our Main Streets.
Location: Washington/Fairfax Room, Cacapon Resort State Park
2:15 - 5:15 pm
Option 1) Guided Walking Tour of Paw Paw and historic Paw Paw Tunnel on the C&O Canal
Ticketed add-on activity - $10 (Benefits C&O Canal Trust)
This walking tour consists of two parts. The first part is a walking tour of Paw Paw’s Historic Properties with stops at up to seven buildings individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places or deemed eligible for individual listing. The second part of the tour is a visit to the C&O Canal Paw Paw Tunnel located less than a mile from Paw Paw, WV in Maryland. An expert on the Canal’s history, arranged through the C&O Canal Trust, will provide a guided tour of the Tunnel. Walking tours are a great way to tap into the growing sector of heritage tourism by sharing stories with visitors while also bringing them into local businesses. Participants will leave with an understanding of the ties between storytelling and the built environment and how it can aid in garnering support and interest in historic preservation while furthering economic growth.
Location: Meet outside of the Cacapon Resort gift shop to carpool to Paw Paw.
Option 2) Guided Tour of Greenway Cemetery & Basic Cemetery Restoration Workshop
Join David O’Connell (Friends of Greenway) for a historical tour of the Greenway Cemetery - a 25-acre, historic burial ground in Berkeley Springs, WV, containing over 8,000 interments dating back to the late 1800s, including Civil War Union General Simon Forrester Barstow. Following this walking tour, Joni Morris, cemetery preservation specialist, will be joined by Lyle & Theresa Rush, Addison Reese, and Elizabeth Nicholson (all representing the Jefferson County Historic Landmarks Commission) to review basic maintenance techniques for historic cemeteries. They will also share how the commission works in the county to save historic cemeteries.
Location: Greenway Cemetery, 828 Greenway Drive, Berkeley Springs, WV
Option 3) Educational Sessions at Cacapon Resort, 818 Cacapon Lodge Dr, Berkeley Springs, WV
2:15 - 3:30 - Educational Session Choices
Early Influences of West Virginia Log Architecture
Historian Gerald Milnes will talk about over thirty years of research and photography. There has been much controversy about Old World influences on American log architecture. There has been no substantial field work done in the early settled region of West Virginia. I will trace aspects of log buildings to Old World regions, based on my discoveries. I concentrate on the Eastern Allegheny Mountain and Potomac Highland area, the “Old Frontier.” Additionally, research in the Delaware Valley, trips to European sites, and a thorough search of the literature, will inform the presentation. My research will result in a book which is slated for release in February and will shed new light on the subject for the permanent record.
Location: Panhandle Room at Cacapon Resort
Connecting People to Historic Places using Genealogical Context
Historic preservation relies on understanding and communicating the significance of places, yet many historic buildings, districts, and cultural landscapes are interpreted without fully identifying the people who lived, worked, worshiped, or were buried there. Genealogical research provides critical contextual information that enhances preservation planning, interpretation, and public engagement by restoring human stories to historic places. Join Kaitlyn Pauley, professional geneaologist, in this session where she will demonstrate how genealogical records—such as census schedules, land and tax records, church registers, probate files, and migration documentation—can be used to connect individuals and families to specific sites over time. By incorporating genealogical context, preservation professionals can strengthen interpretive narratives, support statements of significance, and foster deeper community and descendant engagement. Using case studies relevant to West Virginia and the Appalachian region, this presentation will show how genealogy can be applied to historic sites, rural landscapes, cemeteries, and historic districts to improve interpretation, encourage heritage tourism, and build public support for preservation efforts.
Location: Rumsey Room, Cacapon Resort
Understanding Multi-Property Documentation Surveys
The Multiple Property Documentation (MPD) is a tool used by the National Park Service to assist in nominating resources to the National Register that have a shared history or similar characteristics to one another. These can be resources across the state, throughout a county, or even in one town. An MPD in itself does not nominate a resource to the National Register, but it provides important background information and justification for nominating a resource. Utilizing MPDs can be an efficient way of nominating multiple resources to the National Register without having to research and write duplicative information. In recent years, West Virginia has produced Multiple Property Documentations that helped nominate colonial-era fort sites, New Deal stone walls, Green Book properties, and Mail Pouch Tobacco barns to the National Register. Despite the benefits, the concept of a MPD is often misunderstood, which limits its use. Cody Straley of the WV State Historic Preservation will explain the purpose of MPDs and, using recent case studies, discuss how one may be developed and utilized for National Register nominations.
Location: Morgan Room, Cacapon Resort State Park
3:45 - 5:00 Educational Session Choices
Log Cabin Restoration Workshop, Part 2
This is part 2 of a log cabin restoration workshop led by two experts and friends: Moss Rudley, Superintendent of the National Park Service’s Historic Preservation Training Center and Joshua Adamo of Adamo Building Arts, a historic preservation specialist, trainer, and general contractor.. During the workshop, they will revisit work previously done by the NPS in 2013 and analyze the methodology and maintenance from two different approaches: the federal government and private sector.
Location: CCC Shelter, Cacapon Resort, 818 Cacapon Lodge Dr, Berkeley Springs, WV
Preserving the Past, Connecting the Community: A Digital Solution for Historic Districts
Layne Thompson, Senior VP of JMA Resources, will introduce an emerging technology solution designed to build a rich, collaborative interactive community and transform how local governments manage historic districts. Built with advanced Geographic Information Systems capabilities, the platform enhances community building, collaborative district management, and historic preservation through an integrated suite of tools - including interactive mapping, shared discussion boards, local resources, and community posting features that strengthen communication, participation and teamwork. Attendees will learn how our product supports critical needs for local historic districts by improving information accessibility, encouraging real-time collaboration, and inspiring shared collaborative workflows, implementation considerations, and measurable benefits demonstrated through pilot town results. By combining modern technology with accessible, cooperative engagement tools, our product delivers a scalable, fully integrated solution that empowers organizations to work smarter - uniting communities, facilitating collaboration, and strengthening the collective ability to achieve meaningful outcomes, sustainable historic preservation.
Location: Rumsey Room, Cacapon Resort
Seminar on Gov. Kump’s public education legacy and the Kump House Centennial
Join Dr. Heather Biola to learn more about the Kump Education Center’s centennial celebration of the historic Kump House in Elkins, WV, and the history and efforts to adaptively reuse the house.. In 1925 Edna and Guy Kump moved into their 26-room home with six children of their own and space for eight of Guy’s nieces and nephews. When H. G. Kump ran for governor in 1932, the county-unit school system was his main priority. Several Kump family members became teachers, and daughter Mary Gamble taught in US military dependent schools all over the world. At her death she bequeathed historic Kump House to the City of Elkins in 2008. Since that time, Kump grandchildren, great grandchildren, and community volunteers have raised funds to help restore the historic house. Now it is one of the best domestic examples of twentieth century architecture, innovation, and family life built during the “American Century.” Nevertheless, in 2026 respect for historic preservation and public education are endangered in West Virginia and the United States of America.
Location: Morgan Room, Cacapon Resort
6:00 - 8:00 pm - Dinner Options
Option 1) Private dinner with PAWV Board of Directors & Staff
Ticketed add-on activity - $50
Join members of the PAWV Board of Directors and staff for a special dinner of Appalachian-creative comfort food in the mountains of Berkeley Springs. Enjoy a relaxing sunset overlooking the amazing Cacapon River.
Location: Panorama Public House, 3299 Cacapon Rd, Berkeley Springs, WV
Option 2) Dinner on your own at a restaurant of your choice.
9:00 pm - Fireside Fun at the Lake
Roast smores and enjoy views of Cacapon Lake from the historic Boat Dock Shelter constructed in the 1930s by the CCC!
Location: Boat Dock Shelter, Cacapon Resort
Thursday - May 14, 2026
8:00 - 9:00 - Registration & Exhibitor Space
Location: Lobby, Cacapon Resort State Park
9:00 - 10:15 - Educational Sessions at Cacapon Resort State Park
America’s 250th in the Appalachian Forest - Ongoing Commemoration of America
This panel will draw from over two years of ongoing programming by AFNHA and our partners illuminating under-represented voices and stories that collectively have built America at 250. Guided by suggestions from AASLH, AFNHA identified three themes to focus on in telling our area’s role in America – We the People, the Power of Place, and Justice and Democracy. Topics such as Indigenous Appalachia, early settlement, community founders, ethnic contributions, and growth of communities are being told by AFNHA through a blog series and summer exhibit. Partner projects are being supported by AFNHA grants, and will be showcased during the commemoration summer of 2026. This session will share how this ambitious project was planned and implemented, including coping with challenges to funding and changes in approach from the federal America250 initiatives. Specific project examples will include exhibits, heritage and cultural events, and children’s activity programs that have connected to America at 250 themes.
Panel: Phyllis Baxter (Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area), Dawn Hein (Evergreen Preservation), Ben Duvall-Irwin, Eleanor Renshaw (Beverly Heritage Center)
Location: Panhandle Room, Cacapon Resort
Finetuning the Right Approach for Preserving our Heritage - Data Driven Decision Making in Saving Historic Buildings
Stephen DeNeui & Tom Kilionski (Mills Group) will present a seminar describing the process of evaluating historic buildings/structures in order to best pair them with an appropriate architectural preservation approach. Leveraging the data of each particular variable of the project allows professionals to recommend one of the four approaches: Preservation, Restoration, Reconstruction, or Adaptive Reuse. Each approach and its criteria will be explored in detail, helping professionals grasp the methodological aspects going into each project type. A myriad of factors, such as remaining historical integrity, overall condition, previous alterations, location, and use type, will help triage which approach is best. Finally, professionals will be shown how the melding of this data with applicable financial resources, such as tax credits, SHPO grants, local grants, and federal grants, unlocks additional possibilities. With an understanding of this evaluation criterion, professionals will be able to better assess a project for its best approach and help clients begin.
Location: Morgan Room, Cacapon Resort
From Passion to Policy: How Preservation Organizations & Advocates Can Shape Outcomes at Every Level of Government
Joshua Higginbotham will present a fast-paced, interactive session designed specifically for executive directors, board members, staff, and volunteers of preservation nonprofits, Main Street programs, landmark commissions, CVB’s, and heritage tourism organizations. Attendees will leave with a complete advocacy toolkit they can begin using the day they return home.
Location: Rumsey Room, Cacapon Resort
Brick Restoration Discussion & Demonstration, part 1
Jessica Gordon is the Training Manager for the National Park Service’s Historic Preservation Training Center, and she will be doing a three-part masonry discussion and demonstration. In part 1, Jessica will share her expertise in various types of bricks, the purpose of mortar and why it eventually deteriorates, and how to properly rake out deteriorated mortar in preparation for repointing.
Location: CCC Shelter, Cacapon Resort
10:30 - 11:45 - Educational Sessions at Cacapon Resort State Park
We are All Storytellers - The Art & Neuroscience of Storytelling: Paw Paw’s story told through historic buildings
David Abruzzi (Cacapon Preservation Solutions) will present on how we as historians are all storytellers. As humans we are wired “for story” as a way to bond and develop relationships. For those seeking to preserve built history, sharing a building’s historic significance through stories is a great way to develop interest in preservation and participate in the growing economic sector of heritage tourism. The presentation explores the science behind storytelling and looks at Paw Paw’s Built History as a case study in making connections between history and place. Attendees will leave with an understanding of the ties between storytelling and the built environment, and how it can aid in garnering support and interest in historic preservation.
Location: Panhandle Room, Cacapon Resort
Getting to Know Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs)
Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) play a critical role in expanding access to capital for communities and projects that traditional lenders often overlook. This session introduces participants to a panel of CDFI leaders who will share insights into how their organizations support community development, small businesses, housing, and preservation initiatives. Panelists will discuss their missions, lending priorities, and the types of projects they fund, as well as practical strategies for nonprofits, local governments, and developers seeking financing. Through moderated discussion and audience questions, participants will gain a clearer understanding of how CDFIs operate, how to build relationships with them, and how these institutions can help move community revitalization projects forward.
Panel: Heather Slack (Kristoffy Capital), Jessica Firmstone (Wesbanco)
Location: Rumsey Room, Cacapon Resort
Finding your Footing in Community Advocacy when the Odds Feel Stacked against You -
Communities facing large developments are often told it’s a closed deal before they even submit their proposal, that the building or history isn’t worth protecting. This session challenges that assumption. Using the response Middleway, WV took toward a proposed industrial water bottling facility as a case study, the seminar highlights how a surge of grassroots organizing helped build broad community support and achieve early victories at the county level. It also addresses the reality that these wins are often just the beginning, as richly resourced developers continue efforts to regain ground by cultivating support within state power structures. Participants will learn how to engage decision makers, respond to opposing arguments, and understand how this experience can resonate beyond a single village to empower others. Designed for anyone who cares deeply about their community and cultural heritage, this session emphasizes respectful dialogue even in hostile environments, anchoring in shared values, sustaining encouragement, and maintaining long term momentum.
Panel: Jessie Norris (Middleway Conservancy), Addison Reese (Jefferson Co. HLC), Stacy Chapman (Protect Middleway)
Location: Morgan Room, Cacapon Resort
Brick Restoration Discussion & Demonstration, part 2
In part two of this three-part presentation, NPS expert and Training Manager for the Historic Preservation training Center, Jessica Gordon will discuss the various types of mortars used in historic masonry, why specific mortars are used for historic preservation work, how to properly mix mortar, and how to properly repoint brickwork.
Location: CCC Shelter, Cacapon Resort
12:00 - 2:00 pm - Luncheon with Keynote Address
All conference attendees will be welcome to a buffet style lunch at Cacapon Resort. Following lunch, Lawana Holland-Moore, Director of Grantee Impact and Engagement for the National Trust for Historic Preservation's African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, will present a keynote address. The National Trust for Historic Preservation’s African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund is the largest preservation effort ever undertaken on behalf of African American historic sites of activism, achievement and resilience. By examining the work of the Action Fund and using examples of their grantee projects, the importance of telling the full history and untold stories will be demonstrated and help us to understand the ways that we can avoid omission and erasure. Preservation serves as a form of storytelling and memory and acts as tangible evidence to continue to make history known for generations to come.
Location: Washington/Fairfax Room, Cacapon Resort
2:15 - 3:45 pm - Educational Sessions at Cacapon Resort State Park
Design, Society and the Recent Past: Evaluating Modern Architecture at West Virginia University
This panel originates in work that students and their professor have worked on across two semesters – a series of projects evaluating National Register of Historic Places eligibility for works of modern architecture on campus built in the 1960 and 1970s. While the last campus building to enter the National Register was listed in 1985 and was built in 1921, the historic resources of WVU’s post-World War II expansion have now become old enough that the question of their eligibility is ripe. Some buildings, like the iconic Brutalist-style Coliseum (1970), have architectural significance established in scholarly and professional sources. Others, such as the Mountainlair (1969), may have some architectural significance but with alterations impacting integrity of design and years of student events, could have a better chance of listing for social histories. Not all modernist architecture can make the mark for design, and other associations may be more important. This panel reports on work in progress toward National Register listings for several buildings on campus.
Panel: Dr. Michael Allen, Ainsley Mchugh and others TBD
Location: Panhandle Room, Cacapon Resort
Building a Responsive Residential Tax Credit, New York to West Virginia
West Virginia has a historic residential tax credit program, but its own terms make it difficult or impossible for most homeowners to use in many situations. This event will dive into the counterpart program in New York State, with Zachary Salman who works for the New York State Historic Preservation Office. Their program successfully benefits homeowners and drives economic investment in all corners of the state. Zachary will detail how the improvements that have been made to New York’s program can be implemented in West Virginia so it can share that benefit.
Location: Morgan Room, Cacapon Resort
Disappearing Places: Tanneries, Taverns & Churches
Throughout West Virginia’s history, certain buildings supported everyday life in both large communities and small, shaping local economies, expanding social networks and providing spiritual salvation. Tanneries, taverns and churches each played a crucial role in the development of many towns across the state. As communities evolved, however, many of these resources lost their central place within the community, often disappearing with little recognition of their historic importance. More recently, Mail Pouch Tobacco barn signs, once ubiquitous across the West Virginia landscape, are now also fading from memory. This panel discussion looks at how Taverns, Tanneries, Churches, and Mail Pouch Tobacco Barn Signs are disappearing from the landscape.
Panel: Sandra Scaffidi (Practical Preservation), David Abruzzi (Cacapon Preservation Solutions), Cody Straley (WV State Historic Preservation Office)
Location: Rumsey Room, Cacapon Resort
Stonework Restoration Demonstration & Discussion
In part 3 of this 3-part presentation, Jessica Gordon (Training Manager for the National Park Service’s Historic Preservation Training Center will discuss the various types of stone, the various types of joints for stonework, and how to repoint stonework.
Location: CCC Shelter, Cacapon Resort
4: 00 - 6:00 pm - Free time!
5:00 pm - Annual West Virginia Historic Preservation Awards Banquet & Silent Auction at the circa 1910 historic MAC Ice House, 138 Independence St, Berkeley Springs
Mr. Redding also serves as the host of the weekly national podcast, PreserveCast, and he will discuss how the podcast has provided the organization the opportunity to explore complex subjects in a more in-depth manner. Redding will also and what the interviews have uncovered about both the guests and the future of the field of preservation. Redding will draw on anecdotes from the nearly 370+ episodes recorded since the podcast launched to illustrate how the field is changing, the relevance of preservation, and how audiences are consuming and reacting to preservation content.
8:00 - 9:00 - Registration & Exhibitor Space
Location: Lobby, Cacapon Resort State Park
9:00 - 10:15 - Educational Sessions at Cacapon Resort State Park
America’s 250th in the Appalachian Forest - Ongoing Commemoration of America
This panel will draw from over two years of ongoing programming by AFNHA and our partners illuminating under-represented voices and stories that collectively have built America at 250. Guided by suggestions from AASLH, AFNHA identified three themes to focus on in telling our area’s role in America – We the People, the Power of Place, and Justice and Democracy. Topics such as Indigenous Appalachia, early settlement, community founders, ethnic contributions, and growth of communities are being told by AFNHA through a blog series and summer exhibit. Partner projects are being supported by AFNHA grants, and will be showcased during the commemoration summer of 2026. This session will share how this ambitious project was planned and implemented, including coping with challenges to funding and changes in approach from the federal America250 initiatives. Specific project examples will include exhibits, heritage and cultural events, and children’s activity programs that have connected to America at 250 themes.
Panel: Phyllis Baxter (Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area), Dawn Hein (Evergreen Preservation), Ben Duvall-Irwin, Eleanor Renshaw (Beverly Heritage Center)
Location: Panhandle Room, Cacapon Resort
Finetuning the Right Approach for Preserving our Heritage - Data Driven Decision Making in Saving Historic Buildings
Stephen DeNeui & Tom Kilionski (Mills Group) will present a seminar describing the process of evaluating historic buildings/structures in order to best pair them with an appropriate architectural preservation approach. Leveraging the data of each particular variable of the project allows professionals to recommend one of the four approaches: Preservation, Restoration, Reconstruction, or Adaptive Reuse. Each approach and its criteria will be explored in detail, helping professionals grasp the methodological aspects going into each project type. A myriad of factors, such as remaining historical integrity, overall condition, previous alterations, location, and use type, will help triage which approach is best. Finally, professionals will be shown how the melding of this data with applicable financial resources, such as tax credits, SHPO grants, local grants, and federal grants, unlocks additional possibilities. With an understanding of this evaluation criterion, professionals will be able to better assess a project for its best approach and help clients begin.
Location: Morgan Room, Cacapon Resort
From Passion to Policy: How Preservation Organizations & Advocates Can Shape Outcomes at Every Level of Government
Joshua Higginbotham will present a fast-paced, interactive session designed specifically for executive directors, board members, staff, and volunteers of preservation nonprofits, Main Street programs, landmark commissions, CVB’s, and heritage tourism organizations. Attendees will leave with a complete advocacy toolkit they can begin using the day they return home.
Location: Rumsey Room, Cacapon Resort
Brick Restoration Discussion & Demonstration, part 1
Jessica Gordon is the Training Manager for the National Park Service’s Historic Preservation Training Center, and she will be doing a three-part masonry discussion and demonstration. In part 1, Jessica will share her expertise in various types of bricks, the purpose of mortar and why it eventually deteriorates, and how to properly rake out deteriorated mortar in preparation for repointing.
Location: CCC Shelter, Cacapon Resort
10:30 - 11:45 - Educational Sessions at Cacapon Resort State Park
We are All Storytellers - The Art & Neuroscience of Storytelling: Paw Paw’s story told through historic buildings
David Abruzzi (Cacapon Preservation Solutions) will present on how we as historians are all storytellers. As humans we are wired “for story” as a way to bond and develop relationships. For those seeking to preserve built history, sharing a building’s historic significance through stories is a great way to develop interest in preservation and participate in the growing economic sector of heritage tourism. The presentation explores the science behind storytelling and looks at Paw Paw’s Built History as a case study in making connections between history and place. Attendees will leave with an understanding of the ties between storytelling and the built environment, and how it can aid in garnering support and interest in historic preservation.
Location: Panhandle Room, Cacapon Resort
Getting to Know Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs)
Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) play a critical role in expanding access to capital for communities and projects that traditional lenders often overlook. This session introduces participants to a panel of CDFI leaders who will share insights into how their organizations support community development, small businesses, housing, and preservation initiatives. Panelists will discuss their missions, lending priorities, and the types of projects they fund, as well as practical strategies for nonprofits, local governments, and developers seeking financing. Through moderated discussion and audience questions, participants will gain a clearer understanding of how CDFIs operate, how to build relationships with them, and how these institutions can help move community revitalization projects forward.
Panel: Heather Slack (Kristoffy Capital), Jessica Firmstone (Wesbanco)
Location: Rumsey Room, Cacapon Resort
Finding your Footing in Community Advocacy when the Odds Feel Stacked against You -
Communities facing large developments are often told it’s a closed deal before they even submit their proposal, that the building or history isn’t worth protecting. This session challenges that assumption. Using the response Middleway, WV took toward a proposed industrial water bottling facility as a case study, the seminar highlights how a surge of grassroots organizing helped build broad community support and achieve early victories at the county level. It also addresses the reality that these wins are often just the beginning, as richly resourced developers continue efforts to regain ground by cultivating support within state power structures. Participants will learn how to engage decision makers, respond to opposing arguments, and understand how this experience can resonate beyond a single village to empower others. Designed for anyone who cares deeply about their community and cultural heritage, this session emphasizes respectful dialogue even in hostile environments, anchoring in shared values, sustaining encouragement, and maintaining long term momentum.
Panel: Jessie Norris (Middleway Conservancy), Addison Reese (Jefferson Co. HLC), Stacy Chapman (Protect Middleway)
Location: Morgan Room, Cacapon Resort
Brick Restoration Discussion & Demonstration, part 2
In part two of this three-part presentation, NPS expert and Training Manager for the Historic Preservation training Center, Jessica Gordon will discuss the various types of mortars used in historic masonry, why specific mortars are used for historic preservation work, how to properly mix mortar, and how to properly repoint brickwork.
Location: CCC Shelter, Cacapon Resort
12:00 - 2:00 pm - Luncheon with Keynote Address
All conference attendees will be welcome to a buffet style lunch at Cacapon Resort. Following lunch, Lawana Holland-Moore, Director of Grantee Impact and Engagement for the National Trust for Historic Preservation's African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, will present a keynote address. The National Trust for Historic Preservation’s African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund is the largest preservation effort ever undertaken on behalf of African American historic sites of activism, achievement and resilience. By examining the work of the Action Fund and using examples of their grantee projects, the importance of telling the full history and untold stories will be demonstrated and help us to understand the ways that we can avoid omission and erasure. Preservation serves as a form of storytelling and memory and acts as tangible evidence to continue to make history known for generations to come.
Location: Washington/Fairfax Room, Cacapon Resort
2:15 - 3:45 pm - Educational Sessions at Cacapon Resort State Park
Design, Society and the Recent Past: Evaluating Modern Architecture at West Virginia University
This panel originates in work that students and their professor have worked on across two semesters – a series of projects evaluating National Register of Historic Places eligibility for works of modern architecture on campus built in the 1960 and 1970s. While the last campus building to enter the National Register was listed in 1985 and was built in 1921, the historic resources of WVU’s post-World War II expansion have now become old enough that the question of their eligibility is ripe. Some buildings, like the iconic Brutalist-style Coliseum (1970), have architectural significance established in scholarly and professional sources. Others, such as the Mountainlair (1969), may have some architectural significance but with alterations impacting integrity of design and years of student events, could have a better chance of listing for social histories. Not all modernist architecture can make the mark for design, and other associations may be more important. This panel reports on work in progress toward National Register listings for several buildings on campus.
Panel: Dr. Michael Allen, Ainsley Mchugh and others TBD
Location: Panhandle Room, Cacapon Resort
Building a Responsive Residential Tax Credit, New York to West Virginia
West Virginia has a historic residential tax credit program, but its own terms make it difficult or impossible for most homeowners to use in many situations. This event will dive into the counterpart program in New York State, with Zachary Salman who works for the New York State Historic Preservation Office. Their program successfully benefits homeowners and drives economic investment in all corners of the state. Zachary will detail how the improvements that have been made to New York’s program can be implemented in West Virginia so it can share that benefit.
Location: Morgan Room, Cacapon Resort
Disappearing Places: Tanneries, Taverns & Churches
Throughout West Virginia’s history, certain buildings supported everyday life in both large communities and small, shaping local economies, expanding social networks and providing spiritual salvation. Tanneries, taverns and churches each played a crucial role in the development of many towns across the state. As communities evolved, however, many of these resources lost their central place within the community, often disappearing with little recognition of their historic importance. More recently, Mail Pouch Tobacco barn signs, once ubiquitous across the West Virginia landscape, are now also fading from memory. This panel discussion looks at how Taverns, Tanneries, Churches, and Mail Pouch Tobacco Barn Signs are disappearing from the landscape.
Panel: Sandra Scaffidi (Practical Preservation), David Abruzzi (Cacapon Preservation Solutions), Cody Straley (WV State Historic Preservation Office)
Location: Rumsey Room, Cacapon Resort
Stonework Restoration Demonstration & Discussion
In part 3 of this 3-part presentation, Jessica Gordon (Training Manager for the National Park Service’s Historic Preservation Training Center will discuss the various types of stone, the various types of joints for stonework, and how to repoint stonework.
Location: CCC Shelter, Cacapon Resort
4: 00 - 6:00 pm - Free time!
5:00 pm - Annual West Virginia Historic Preservation Awards Banquet & Silent Auction at the circa 1910 historic MAC Ice House, 138 Independence St, Berkeley Springs
- Cocktail hour, silent auction, and tour of the historic Ice house
- Catered dinner and cash bar
- Keynote address with Nicholas Redding, President & CEO of Preservation Maryland, will present the talk entitled Stories from PreserveCast: What 10,000 Minutes of Podcasting Can Teach Us about Preservation, Relevance, and the Future of Our Field.
- Annual Historic Preservation Awards Ceremony
Mr. Redding also serves as the host of the weekly national podcast, PreserveCast, and he will discuss how the podcast has provided the organization the opportunity to explore complex subjects in a more in-depth manner. Redding will also and what the interviews have uncovered about both the guests and the future of the field of preservation. Redding will draw on anecdotes from the nearly 370+ episodes recorded since the podcast launched to illustrate how the field is changing, the relevance of preservation, and how audiences are consuming and reacting to preservation content.
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