https://www.historicsantafe.org/2025-preservation-month
During Heritage Preservation Month in May each year, many of the preservation organizations in Santa Fe play an active role in recognizing those who contribute to the field while others produce materials or events to celebrate our heritage, preservation and the tradition of earthen building in New Mexico. The City of Santa Fe, Historic Santa Fe Foundation, and Old Santa Fe Association host an awards ceremony at San Miguel Chapel to recognize architects, homeowners, and important professionals. The State Historic Preservation Office’s Cultural Properties Review Committee has hosted their awards ceremony for over 50 years. Cornerstones Community Partnerships makes adobe bricks in the downtown area to be used in their many projects in communities who need assistance with their historic preservation projects, always keeping their vision in mind and honoring their cultural heritage.
For 2025, Historic Santa Fe Foundation is honored to partner with the New Mexico Museum of History and numerous organizations to produce the Preservation Month Symposium — Preserving Place: The Santa Fe Symposium — a Preservation Month preview event that offers a day-long program for the community, our respective organizational membership, and the public relating to preservation, its relevance, and its challenges.
The partners in this event are: Historic Santa Fe Foundation, New Mexico History Museum, the State Historic Preservation Office, Old Santa Fe Association, City of Santa Fe Historic Preservation Division, Pueblo of Tesuque, Friends of Architecture, AIA Santa Fe, and Cornerstones Community Partnerships.
Schedule for Saturday, April 26 8:30am-4:30pm
At the designated check-in table located in the lobby of the New Mexico History Museum, attendees will receive a wristband for all-day access. Attendees may drop in and out of the talks, but we encourage entry at the beginning of each panel or lecture to avoid disturbances.
8:30-8:55am | Check-in at the New Mexico History Museum lobby.
At the designated check-in table located in the lobby of the New Mexico History Museum, attendees will receive a wristband for all-day access. Attendees may drop in and out of the talks, but we encourage entry at the beginning of each panel or lecture to avoid disturbances.
9am | Welcome and announcements
9:15-10:20am | Old Santa Fe Association and Historic Santa Fe Foundation: Our History and Future
Panelists: Edward Archuleta (OSFA), Randy Bell (OSFA), Melanie McWhorter (HSFF), Mac Watson (HSFF).
In 2026, Old Santa Fe Association (OSFA) will be celebrating their 100th anniversary. Historic Santa Fe Foundation was initially founded in 1961 as a nonprofit organization by many of the members of Old Santa Fe Association. In 2024, OSFA announced their transition to a 501(c)3. With this shift, the Board, staff, members, and supporters of both organizations see the need to delineate and define the missions, projects, and programs of each group to distinguish one from the other. With this panel, OSFA and HSFF discuss their respective histories, the current structure of each group, their programs and projects, and receive questions from the audience to provide more clarity on each organization.
10:30-11:40am | Archaeology and Preservation in Downtown Santa Fe’s Historic Districts
Panelist: Former Tesuque Governor Mark Mitchell and archaeologist Steve Post moderated by Historic Preservation Manager Gary Moquino.
Description coming soon
11:40am-12:40pm | Lunch Break (off-site and on your own)
12:45pm-1:55pm | State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) Role in State and National Preservation
Panelists: SHPO staff Karla McWilliams, Steven Moffson, and Matt Saionz.
This presentation will provide an introduction to the New Mexico Historic Preservation Division programs. The talk will discuss tax credits, funding options, and levels of historic designation. Karla McWilliams is the Deputy Director of the NMHPD and formerly served as CLG and Grants Coordinator. She will speak on grant funding and the Certified Local Government program. Steven Moffson is a historian with the New Mexico Historic Preservation Division and he will discuss the National and State Register. Matt Saionz is a historian with the New Mexico Historic Preservation Division. He will talk about how he manages the tax credit program and coordinates the state historic marker program.
2:05-3:20pm | Architectural Design in Santa Fe with Santa Fe AIA
Panelists: Shawn Evans, AIA, Richard Martinez, AIA, Beverley Spears, FAIA, and Gayla Bechtol, AIA.
AIA Santa Fe is the local component of the American Institute of Architects, the national professional organization serving architects in the United States. Members must be registered architects; associate members must be working toward registration. This 15-minute presentation will be followed by discussion between panelists and the audience.
3:30pm-4:20pm | The Future of Preservation in Santa Fe (A facilitated audience discussion)
Presented by Anthony Guida, president of Friends of Architecture Santa Fe.
The City Different has taken many approaches to preservation over the last 120 years - revivalism, speculative restoration, design controls, and historic protections, to name a few. A facilitated audience discussion will imagine the future of preservation in Santa Fe, informed by our past successes, current challenges, and collective ambitions.
4:20pm | Closing remarks