The Pacific Northwest Preservation Field School is celebrating its “20 Years Reunion” November 7-9. In addition to an evening of remembering, socializing, and learning at the White Stag Block in downtown Portland, attendees can participate in field trips to past and future field school sites.
The first Preservation Field School was held in 1995 at the Pete French Round Barn (1884) in Harney County, Oregon. Through partnerships between the University of Oregon and the National Park Service, State Historic Preservation Offices, and state parks, for over twenty years students and skilled tradespeople have learned first-hand preservation practices at sites throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Above: Members of the inaugural 1995 Field School at the Pete French Round Barn in Eastern Oregon.
On Friday night, attendees at the reunion will hear inspiring leaders in the field of historic preservation including Stephanie Toothman, associate director for Cultural Resources, Partnerships and Science for the National Park Service; and Grant Crosby, senior historical architect for the National Park Service in the Alaska Regional Office in Anchorage.
On Saturday, after breakfast at the White Stag Block, participants will load buses to visit past and future field school sites. These sites include Tryon Creek State Park (2015 field school), Frank Lloyd Wright’s Gordon House (2009 field school), and Silver Falls Youth Camp (1997 and 2009 field schools) along with lunch at the Oregon Garden.
On Sunday, participants will load buses at the White Stag Block to go to Fort Vancouver, Washington, for a tour of the site along with breakfast.
Throughout the weekend attendees will have the opportunity to reconnect with alumni, talk with past and present faculty and partners, and inspire future field school attendees.
Registration is free for current University of Oregon students and $100 for young professionals (graduated in the last three years); or pay $50 for the Friday night program, or $50 for the Saturday program only, Sunday program only, or both. Non-students or recent grads can attend all events for $200; or pay $100 for the Friday night program only (including dinner), $75 for the Saturday program only (including lunch and dinner), or $25 for the Sunday program only (including breakfast). Accommodations are available at the Jupiter Hotel for $139 per night (plus tax). The rate is available through October 29; mention “OPRD Field School.”
Toothman oversees programs that support stewardship of National Park Service cultural resources through partnerships with federal and state agencies and public and private organizations. Prior to her current appointment, she served as regional historian of the NPS Pacific Northwest Region and was chief of cultural resources in the Pacific West Region. On Friday evening, she will share her experiences in preservation in the Pacific Northwest as well as nationally.
Crosby attended the first field school in 1995. He holds UO graduate degrees in historic preservation and architecture. On Friday evening he will talk about the history of the field school.
For more information or to register, visit the field school webpage.
Above: Members of Session 5 of the 2013 Field School at the Comstock Barn, Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve on Whidbey Island in Washington.