The 2026 Preservation Texas Historic Log Building Symposium will take place on Thursday, September 3rd & Friday, September 4th at the Walker Education Center on the grounds of the Sam Houston Memorial Museum and Republic of Texas Presidential Library at Sam Houston State University.

The Symposium will begin on Thursday evening with a reception and keynote address by museum director, Derrick Birdsall. On Friday, attendees will hear presentations from preservation professionals, craftspeople, and scholars on a variety of topics related to the preservation, rehabilitation, and long-term stewardship of historic log buildings. Registration is open to anyone interested in protecting historic log buildings!

An optional Pre-Symposium Field Seminar is being offered on Thursday, September 3, providing participants with an immersive opportunity to learn about traditional timber construction through hands-on instruction while exploring the museum's remarkable collection of historic log structures.

This event is part of Preservation Texas's broader effort to support the preservation of Texas's historic log buildings, including our new $750,000 National Park Service-funded Historic Rural Log Building Grant Program. The symposium's discussions and presentations will help inform the development of a Texas Log Building Preservation Manual, establishing the first Texas-specific best practices for the treatment of our state's vernacular log buildings.

Sponsorship opportunities are available for this event! Learn more below.

Pictured: Sam Houston’s Law Office (top) and Eliza’s Kitchen (bottom) at the Sam Houston Memorial Museum & Republic of Texas Presidential Library in Huntsville.

Historic Log Building Symposium 2.0

September 3-4, 2026 in Huntsville

Event Schedule

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3

9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. OPTIONAL FIELD SEMINAR (Limited to 25 attendees)

6:00 p.m. KEYNOTE - WOODLAND AND BEYOND: HOW A HOMESTEAD BECAME THE SAM HOUSTON MEMORIAL MUSEUM
Derrick Birdsall, Director, Sam Houston Memorial Museum & Republic of Texas Presidential Library

6:30 p.m. OPENING RECEPTION & NETWORKING
Refreshments will be served.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4

9:00 a.m. WELCOME & INTRODUCTION
Conor Herterich, Director of Heritage Trades Programs, Preservation Texas

9:30 a.m. PANEL A:

  • BUILDING TRADITIONS: REGIONAL FORMS OF TEXAS LOG ARCHITECTURE
    Ken Hafertepe, Ph.D, Professor of Museum Studies, Baylor University

  • WOOD BY REGION: SPECIES SELECTION AND LONG-TERM PERFORMANCE IN HISTORIC TEXAS LOG BUILDINGS
    Matthew McBroom, Ph.D, Associate Dean, Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, Stephen F. Austin State University

11:00 a.m. PANEL B:

  • DESIGNED FOR THE GULF: HOW HISTORIC LOG BUILDINGS RESPOND TO CLIMATE
    Jason Logan, Associate Professor, Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design, University of Houston

  • TBD

12:15 p.m. LUNCH
Box lunches will be provided.

1:30 p.m. PANEL C:

  • REPAIR, REPLACE, OR RETAIN? APPROACHES TO LOG REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT
    Jean Becnel Sr., Owner, Architectural Preservation LLC

  • WATERLOG’D: A CASE STUDY FROM GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK
    Murray Miller, Historic Preservation Manager, Cushing Terrell

2:45 p.m. CLOSING REMARKS & TOUR
Optional tour of the Sam Houston Memorial Museum grounds.

Pictured: The Sam Houston Memorial Museum and Republic of Texas Presidential Library.

Optional Field Seminar

To supplement the symposium, an exclusive Field Seminar is being offered on Thursday, September 3, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on the grounds of the Sam Houston Memorial Museum, which is home to several original, reconstructed, and relocated log buildings.

Led by Louisiana-based historic timber-framing and log building preservation specialist Jean Becnel, participants will explore the traditional craft of log construction through live demonstrations and hands-on instruction in hewing and notching techniques. Participants will also enjoy a guided exploration of the museum's collection of log buildings, examining their construction methods, materials, and preservation challenges.

Registration for the Field Seminar is $75 per person and is limited to 25 participants on a first-come, first-served basis. The registration fee includes a boxed lunch, as well as admission to the Symposium's opening reception and keynote presentation on Thursday evening.

Workshop Agenda

Pictured: Field seminar participants at Mission Tejas State Park ahead of the 2024 Historic Log Building Summit held in Nacogdoches.

Registration

Symposium + Field Seminar: $225

  • Includes the Thursday Field Seminar, Thursday evening keynote & reception, and Friday programming.

Symposium Only: $150

  • Includes the Thursday evening keynote & reception, and Friday programming.

Field Seminar Only: $75

  • Includes the Thursday Field Seminar and Thursday evening keynote & reception only.


Sorry, no refunds.

Current Preservation Texas members receive 10% off registration fees using code MEMBER26. If you are unsure of your current membership status, please email hunick@preservationtexas.org for assistance.

Register to Attend