2026 Annual Symposium: Shared Heritage, Shared Future:
Preservation, Stewardship, and the Next Generation
Wednesday, July 8, 2026
Independence National Historical Park Commemorates First Public Reading of the Declaration of Independence
Philadelphia –Independence National Historical Park will host the annual re-enactment of the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence on Independence Square on July 8. Park rangers at Independence NHP will reenact the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence at the very location where Colonel John Nixon read this great document to the public in 1776. Media are invited to attend the event.
What: Reenactment of first public reading of Declaration of Independence
Where: Independence Square
When: July 8, Introduction by a park ranger starting at 11:30 a.m.
Declaration reading promptly at noon
This free event begins at 11:30 am with an introduction by a park ranger and will be held on Independence Square. Visitors may enter through the security screening tent on 5th Street between Chestnut and Walnut or participate from beyond the security fence on the southern half of Independence Square. Those wishing to be on the Square should arrive by 11:00 am to ensure completion of security screening.
Costumed National Park Service rangers will mingle with the crowds and distribute copies of the Declaration. On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress voted to approve the Declaration of Independence inside the Pennsylvania State House (now Independence Hall). Four days later, on July 8, 1776, the citizens of Philadelphia were summoned to the State House Yard by the bells of the city. At noon, Colonel John Nixon publicly read the Declaration of Independence for the first time. Following the event and continuing long into the night the bells of the city rang in celebration. For more information visit the park’s website, https://www.nps.gov/inde.
2026 Symposium and Conference–Shared Heritage, Shared Future: Preservation, Stewardship, and the Next Generation
2:00 PM – Opening Remarks from the President – American Philosophical Society
Intangible Heritage as an Embedded Dimension of Place
Intangible cultural heritage—traditions, practices, and lived experiences—plays an increasingly important role in how places are understood and preserved. This session explores how intangible heritage is defined and applied in both U.S. and International contexts, with case studies highlighting evolving approaches to recognition, protection, and interpretation.
Featuring:
Milford Wayne Donaldson, President of ICOMOS-USA & World Heritage USA – Moderator
Ira Matt, Executive Director, Indigenous Diplomacy and Federal Relations, National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers
Tiffany Tolbert, Senior Director for Preservation, African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, National Trust for Historic Preservation
Monuments Toolkit Workshop – Limited Registration
This session introduces the Monuments Toolkit to community practitioners and stakeholders. Attendees will learn what the Toolkit is, understand its core frameworks and definitions, and discover how to implement it in their own communities. The workshop emphasizes theory-based learning and practical application to local contexts.
Featuring:
Diana Hernandez, Program Director, Monuments Toolkit, ICOMOS-USA & World Heritage USA – Moderator
Gilbert Correa, World Heritage Nominations Initiative Director, ICOMOS-USA
Noah Price, Media & Marketing Associate, Monuments Toolkit, ICOMOS-USA & World Heritage USA
6:00 PM – Welcome Reception – Carpenters Hall
Free for all paid Symposium attendees.
Thursday, July 9 2026
9:30 AM – Keynote Remarks – W. Rick West
World Heritage in Transition: Conceptual Shifts and Implications
The definition of World Heritage continues to evolve, now encompassing new categories such as aerospace heritage, cultural routes, and sites shaped by climate change. This session examines how these shifts are influencing nominations, interpretation, and long-term stewardship.
Featuring:
Milford Wayne Donaldson, President of ICOMOS-USA& World Heritage USA – Moderator
Dr. Ray Ashley, former President/CEO of the San Diego Maritime Museum
Rosa Lowinger, Founder of RLA Conservation, LLC
Lisa Westwood, Vice President and Director of Cultural Resources at ECORP Consulting, Inc.
Independence Hall: A Case Study in the Intangible Heritage of Place
Using Independence Hall and the President’s House site as a case study, this session explores how meaning, memory, and historical significance extend beyond the physical structure. Speakers will examine how intangible narratives are interpreted and shared with the public.
Featuring:
Cynthia MacLeod, former Superintendent of Independence National Historical Park – Moderator
Eric Knight, retired Interpretation Ranger at Independence National Historical Park and the Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site
Helen McKenna, retired Interpretation Ranger at Independence National Historical Park and the Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site
Shaping the Future of U.S. World Heritage: The U.S. Tentative List and Future World Heritage Sites
Focusing on both established and prospective sites, this session explores how the U.S. Tentative List functions as a pipeline for World Heritage nominations. Panelists will discuss sites currently on the list, as well as those in earlier stages of consideration, and will address policy considerations, gaps in representation, and the evolving framework guiding U.S. participation in the World Heritage program.
Featuring:
Dr. Glenn T. Eskew, Director, Georgia State University World Heritage Initiative – Moderator
Gilbert Correa, World Heritage Nominations Initiative Director, ICOMOS-USA
Michael Romero Taylor, Senior Advisor of the U.S. / Mexico Binational Nominations Initiative
Dr. Kwesie Daniels, Department Head of the Architecture Department at Tuskegee University
Maren Lankford, Director of Special Projects, President’s Office, Central Park Conservancy
Preparing the Next Generation of Preservation Professionals
Preservation education is adapting to meet new demands across disciplines and regions. Speakers will share how programs, both academic and non-degree, are evolving and offer a global perspective on how the next generation is being prepared.
Featuring:
Janice Harrington, International Exchange Program Coordinator, ICOMOS-USA & World Heritage USA – Moderator
Bryan Clark Green, Visiting Associate Professor of Practice at Virginia Tech and Co-Chair of Association for Preservation Technology International’s Training and Education Committee
Sara Lardinois, Senior Project Specialist, Buildings and Sites Department, Getty Conservation Institute
Sue Ann Pemberton-Haugh, Professor of Practice, University of Texas San Antonio
Transforming Histories: Creative Practice, Public History, and Community Memory
This session examines how creative practice and public history can transform the ways communities encounter difficult and contested histories. Panelists will share projects that reframe historic sites and cultural narratives through art, research, and collaboration, centering the voices of those most impacted. The conversation will focus on how community memory can guide more accountable forms of interpretation, engagement, and preservation.
Featuring:
Diana Hernandez, Program Director, Monuments Toolkit, ICOMOS-USA & World Heritage USA – Moderator
Paul Farber, Director and Co-Founder of Monument Lab
Kerry Sautner, President and CEO, Eastern State Penitentiary
Christina Vassallo, Executive Director, The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage
Friday, July 10, 2026
9:30 AM: Keynote Remarks – Dr. Catherine Clinton
The Intangible Importance of Place
Places carry different meanings for different communities. Through case studies such as Taos Pueblo, Mt. Rainer , and other culturally significant sites, this session explores how those perspectives shape preservation, interpretation, and stewardship.
Featuring:
John J. Reynolds, former Deputy Director NPS – Moderator
Edwin Bernbaum, Author and Senior Fellow at the Instituto de Montaña
Michelle Magalong, Past President, Asian and Pacific Islander Americans in Historic Preservation
Noah Price, Media & Marketing Associate, Monuments Toolkit, ICOMOS-USA & World Heritage USA
World Heritage Sites in Conflict Zones
Conflict and instability pose significant risks to cultural heritage. This session examines how sites are protected under these conditions, highlighting international strategies, advocacy actions, documentation efforts, and collaborative responses.
Featuring:
Dr. Laurie Rush, Secretary of the US Committee of the Blue Shield – Moderator
Dr. Brian I. Daniels, Director of Research and Programs, Penn Cultural Heritage Center, University of Pennsylvania Museum
Lightning Talks
Graduate students present their work in a rapid-fire format, offering fresh perspectives and emerging ideas shaping the future of preservation.
Political Organization and World Heritage
The political aspects of U.S. involvement in World Heritage have been tumultuous over the past decade. This ever-changing situation has called for new and different political advocacy strategies. In this session, presenters will share what strategies have proven effective for recent and current World Heritage nominations, and attendees will collectively consider how to best advocate for the program as a whole within the U.S. in the short- and long-terms.
Featuring:
Jennifer Aultman, Executive Director of Strategic Homeland Partnerships, Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma | Advocacy Committee Chair, ICOMOS-USA & World Heritage USA
Kim Bednarek, Executive Director, Okefenokee Swamp Park, Inc.
Destry Jarvis, Former Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of the Interior | Immediate Past Vice President, ICOMOS-USA & World Heritage USA
Alan Spears, Senior Director for Cultural Resources, National Parks Conservation Association
U.S. on the World Stage: What Happens Next?
As the U.S. redefines its role in international cultural organizations, this session looks at how groups such as ICOMOS, the Getty, and World Monuments Fund continue to advance global preservation efforts and where opportunities for leadership remain.
Featuring:
Destry Jarvis, Former Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of the Interior | Immediate Past Vice President, ICOMOS-USA & World Heritage USA – Moderator
Jonathan Bell, Senior Vice President of Global Preservation Strategy and Director of the Suzanne Deal Booth Institute, World Monuments Fund
Susan Macdonald, Head of Buildings and Sites, Getty Conservation Institute
Jonathan Putnam, former Acting Chief, NPS Office of International Affairs