Real Places: Preserving Historic Texas
April 23-25, 2025
Austin Texas

Registration is now open 

The Texas Historical Commission is pleased to announce that registration is now open for Real Places conference, April 23–25, 2025! See the website now for all the details and to take advantage of early-bird savings! Or read on for more information…

What to Expect in 2025

The same quality programming and networking you’ve come to expect from the premier historic preservation conference in the Lone Star State is in store for you in 2025. Presented again by the Friends of the Texas Historical Commission in partnership with Phoenix I Restoration and Construction, LLC, the full schedule features over 100 expert speakers from across Texas and the U.S, more than 50 sessions, workshops, and tours, several renowned keynote speakers, and lots of fun and interesting activities that we’re still planning and will announce at a later date!

We’re also offering a hybrid conference again, with the option to attend the full conference either in person or virtually. We hope you’ll join us at the Renaissance Austin Hotel for the energy and camaraderie of our in-person event. But we understand that not everyone can make it here. If you join us online, you’ll be able to stream all the conference sessions, and the recordings will be archived for viewing up to 60 days after the conference.

Recordings will be available to all attendees—if you choose in person or virtual, you’ll be able to watch presentations you missed because sessions were running concurrently.

New This Year

The biggest change for 2025 is a new registration option that will allow attendees to save some money. Over the last few years, conference food and beverage costs at hotels have risen dramatically, forcing us to raise registration rates or figure out another option for our attendees. So, we are trying something new this time.

In 2025, we are offering “premium” or “basic” registration options. Premium registration is exactly what you’ve come to expect if you’ve attended Real Places before—all meals are included, plus access to all sessions and events (with the exception of pre-conference workshops, which have an additional price), including the Wednesday Opening Reception and Thursday Awards Dinner.

Basic registration does not include breakfasts and lunches on Thursday and Friday—you’re on your own for those, but you save $150 off your registration price. There are numerous restaurants within walking distance of the hotel.

Traditionally, we have had keynote presentations during the breakfasts and lunches, so to accommodate the new options, we have adjusted the schedule so meals and keynotes are at different times. Morning keynotes will start a bit later so both premium and basic registration attendees can eat before the presentations. Lunch will be 1.5 hours, allowing time for basic registration attendees to leave the hotel and return prior to the afternoon keynote presentation.

Act Now to Save

Save up to $155 on registration by taking advantage of the early-bird rate, which only lasts through December 20!

As always, Courthouse Stewards, students, and organizations registering multiple people at the same time can receive additional discounts. There is also a la carte pricing for single-day registrations and special events.

Register Now, Pay Later

Concerned about a delay in your government or nonprofit employer’s purchasing process preventing access to the early-bird rate? No need to worry. You can register now, lock in the early-bird rate, and pay later. On the payment page at the end of the registration process, the options are credit card or “please invoice me.” Select the latter, and you’re all set!

If you have any questions about registration, see our short video that walks you through the registration process.