[Heritage] Oregon Heritage News 2026-03-19

[INFO Heritage * OPRD]

Oregon Heritage News 2026-03-19
In this Issue:

  *   Seven and a half reasons to attend the 2026 Oregon Heritage Conference (early bird rate ends tomorrow!)
  *   Oregon Cultural Trust schedules 2026 “Conversations with Funders” Events
  *   Latinos in Heritage Conservation Webinar, April 2
  *   Cherry blossoms illuminated at State Capitol State Park March 21 through April 4
  *   Oregon Heritage Exchange Blog features Main Street partnership with RDI
  *   Organizational and Board related resources
  *   National Park Service Lists Arthur H. Devers House in National Register of Historic Places
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Seven and a half reasons to attend the 2026 Oregon Heritage Conference
We get it, budgets are tight, work is piling up, peopling takes a lot of energy, so below is a list of reasons to help with decision making on attending the 2026 Oregon Heritage Conference:

  1.  It’s a pretty darn good deal for conferences these days! $150 gets you four days of workshops, sessions, tours, receptions, a celebratory dinner, and more. While other industry related conferences have dramatically increased their registration rates, Oregon Heritage is working hard to make registration as affordable as possible while still covering conference costs.
  2.  Increase your “I know who to call!” network. By meeting new people, hearing project related stories, interacting with resource organizations, you now have a network of folks to call on down the road when you are working on a project and need some feedback or guidance.
  3.  Location, Location, Location! It’s evident to see in downtown Woodburn the intersection of community cultures. If you are looking to increase access and represent and serve more of your community, you can see it in action in Woodburn (also, the outlet stores are easy to hit on your way in and out of your town…just sayin).
  4.  Combat burnout and be inspired. Burnout is real in this space and the work can feel very overwhelming. It can help to take a break, talk to others, and through listening and learning, find your way back to the reasons you do this work in the first place.
  5.  By spending time and energy at the conference, you save yourself time and energy down the road…hear us out! Hearing lessons learned from others doing this work, learning about tools to make this work easier, gleaning a project road map to adapt, these all save you time and energy in your own work. We promise.
  6.  Road Trip! No matter which direction you are coming to Woodburn from, the view will be great and car time with friends has the potential to yield some really great ideas. If you are looking for financial assistance to help cut down costs, you might try the Roundhouse Foundation technical assistance grants<https://roundhousefoundation.org/how-to-apply-for-roundhouse-grants/#technicalassistance> and/or the Oregon Cultural Trust professional development grants<https://www.culturaltrust.org/wp-content/uploads/FY26_OCT_OrgProfDevt_GrantApplication.pdf>.
  7.  This conference only happens every other year, so take advantage! We try and go big when we do the conference because we only do it every other year. That’s why we make sure the programming is on point, like bringing in an amazing, highly sought after, Plenary Speaker from across the country who you can learn more about here<https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/OH/Pages/heritageconference.aspx#keynote>.
And last but not least:
7.5 Oregon Heritage staff knows how to have fun 😊
Don’t believe us? You can hear straight from a conference attendee here<https://oregonheritage.wordpress.com/2020/03/06/heritage-conference-attendee-spotlight/> reflecting on why they attend the Heritage Conference.
Did we convince you? Then be sure to register soon because that awesome price of $150 will go up after March 20 (TOMORROW!). Register here.<https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/OH/Pages/heritageconference.aspx#registration>
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Oregon Cultural Trust schedules 2026 “Conversations with Funders” Events
From March 26 through April 10, Oregon Cultural Trust is hosting the annual Conversations with Funders series. With over $5 million in funding available for FY2027, this is a prime opportunity for Oregon’s cultural leaders to network, swap ideas and learn directly from those who make community funding possible.
Why You Should Attend
Whether you are a community development organization, library, museum or historic society, these sessions are designed to help you navigate the landscape of cultural support.
Think of it as “speed dating for funding.” You’ll have the chance to engage with the Cultural Trust and its partners—including the Oregon Arts Commission, Oregon Heritage, Oregon Humanities, the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office and many other private foundations and regional funders.
Expanded Networking: Meet, Mingle & Imagine
This year, the tour includes a special addition: Meet, Mingle & Imagine. In Southern Oregon, Sisters and Pendleton, the Trust is hosting informal gatherings where you can network with peers and hear from Arts and Culture Director Amy Lewin about the future goals, challenges and opportunities for Oregon’s cultural sector. These are open to anyone with an interest in arts and culture.
Conversations with Funders Schedule
Register now and secure your spot at the location most convenient for you:
Virtual (Zoom): Thursday, March 26, 3 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Register now.<https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/hh5rw3p/lp/79eab72e-8fd4-4a03-a644-a0baa5a03a35>
Portland: Monday, March 30, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. Register now<https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/h9m4wey/lp/89ace74d-dd7b-458d-99a6-50093a74d027>.
Eugene: Tuesday, March 31, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Register now<https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/ut3t59z/lp/37d38542-2c3b-493c-a62e-73c360c72386>.
Medford Area: Thursday, April 2, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. Register now<https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/6yhqmmc/lp/b8daf9d1-cf37-49e1-bef6-f27484c8a597>.
Newport: Tuesday, April 7, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Register now<https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/t94nsfr/lp/1d8bb4a1-1fe9-4732-835b-de8bf65f7b7d>.
Sisters: Wednesday, April 8, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Register now<https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/4gyntbk/lp/1fc453eb-5c48-429c-8bed-146f9803b2c5>.
Pendleton: Friday, April 10, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Register now.<https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/q6aq6mg/lp/06eba100-06a3-4759-99e8-2e0f49ec46ba>
Meet, Mingle & Imagine Gatherings
Southern Oregon: Wednesday, April 1, 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. Register now<https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/zegb84c/lp/34e98397-b0cf-499e-8bc3-9c4aeeabf841>.
Sisters: Wednesday, April 8, 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. Register now.<https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/dcn4ugn/lp/687f3a23-ce5e-4db0-a551-cdce41fb4f94>
Pendleton: Thursday, April 9, 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. Register now.<https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/4egf28y/lp/e9ac9fb5-85f4-4c1c-bfb8-b57e9d8199cb>
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Latinos in Heritage Conservation Webinar, April 2
Recognition as Protection: How to Begin a Nomination
April 2, 2026
2:00 PM CT | 3 pm ET
Register here.<https://givebutter.com/LHCRecognition?gbtid=cf234038-2930-4dda-a1c3-ff738a22046d>
Communities often know which places matter long before they appear in any official record. Recognition is one way to bring that knowledge into view and begin documenting the places that carry memory, history, and meaning for a community.
On April 2, LHC will host the first webinar in our Latinx Preservation Toolkit<https://track.pstmrk.it/3s/www.latinoheritage.us%2Flatinxpreservationtoolkit/i6LC/jhnEAQ/AQ/84ba451a-d801-44a7-a8e0-710529b08bc5/1/1ccvP_Eqjr> series, focusing on how recognition can serve as a step toward preservation.
During this session, the following will be discussed:
- What recognition means within Latinx historic preservation<https://track.pstmrk.it/3s/www.latinoheritage.us%2Fpreservation101/i6LC/jhnEAQ/AQ/84ba451a-d801-44a7-a8e0-710529b08bc5/2/QQOm_gcnI1>
- Different forms of formal and informal<https://track.pstmrk.it/3s/www.latinoheritage.us%2Fendangeredlatinxlandmarks/i6LC/jhnEAQ/AQ/84ba451a-d801-44a7-a8e0-710529b08bc5/3/uUj6wXN6TV> recognition
- How communities can identify culturally significant places<https://track.pstmrk.it/3s/www.latinoheritage.us%2Fendangeredlatinxlandmarks/i6LC/jhnEAQ/AQ/84ba451a-d801-44a7-a8e0-710529b08bc5/3/uUj6wXN6TV>
- Practical guidance for beginning a nomination<https://track.pstmrk.it/3s/latinosinheritageconservation.submittable.com%2Fsubmit/i6LC/jhnEAQ/AQ/84ba451a-d801-44a7-a8e0-710529b08bc5/4/s-DSFhF2MD>
The session will explore resources from the Latinx Preservation Toolkit<https://track.pstmrk.it/3s/www.latinoheritage.us%2Flatinxpreservationtoolkit/i6LC/jhnEAQ/AQ/84ba451a-d801-44a7-a8e0-710529b08bc5/1/1ccvP_Eqjr>, offering guidance to help community members begin documenting and advocating for the places that shape their histories.
Accessibility: LHC<https://track.pstmrk.it/3s/www.latinoheritage.us%2F/i6LC/jhnEAQ/AQ/84ba451a-d801-44a7-a8e0-710529b08bc5/6/oNueby9Vgj> is partnering with Cinco Rios Multilingual Initiatives to offer simultaneous interpretation in English and Spanish. Recordings will be available afterward on LHC<https://track.pstmrk.it/3s/www.latinoheritage.us%2F/i6LC/jhnEAQ/AQ/84ba451a-d801-44a7-a8e0-710529b08bc5/6/oNueby9Vgj>’s website and YouTube channel<https://track.pstmrk.it/3s/www.youtube.com%2F%40latinoheritage-us/i6LC/jhnEAQ/AQ/84ba451a-d801-44a7-a8e0-710529b08bc5/7/GL5UKUieNR>.
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Cherry blossoms illuminated at State Capitol State Park March 21 through April 4
Oregon Parks and Recreation Department will host “Yozakura,” night viewing of the Akebono cherry blossoms, March 21 through April 4 in the North Mall at State Capitol State Park.
The cherry blossoms will be illuminated with Japanese lanterns and lights nightly from 6-10 p.m. Visitors may bring blankets, camping chairs, or an evening picnic to enjoy under the canopy of the illuminated trees.
The lanterns and lights create a striking and beautiful scene inside the park at night.
The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department will livestream the cherry blossoms on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OregonParks beginning March 21 during the day and evening through April 4.
Park staff ask that tree limbs and blossoms are left as is so everyone can view them throughout the bloom. Alcohol is not allowed in State Capitol State Park (without permits) and the park closes at 10 p.m.
For more information on events at the Capitol, call Visitor Services at 503-986-1388 or visit the events page<https://oregoncapitol.com/events/>.
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Oregon Heritage Exchange Blog features Main Street partnership with RDI
Main Street’s Partnership with Rural Development Initiatives<https://oregonheritage.wordpress.com/?p=5469> | Since 2018 a vital partnership in serving Oregon’s rural Main Streets has existed. RDI’s staff explores the secret recipe that makes the partnership so successful in their eyes.
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Organizational and Board related resources

  *   Tune-Up | This annual responsibilities checklist<https://www.councilofnonprofits.org/files/media/documents/2023/annual-board-tune-up-checklist.pdf> from National Council of Nonprofits hits the high notes. Don’t forget to turn in your annual paperwork!
  *   Fix Your Agenda | Meetings going sideways or being unproductive? Check these tips from the Board Agenda Heritage Bulletin<https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/OH/Documents/HB36_BoardAgendas2.pdf> to stay on track this year. Need an example template, we’ve got one: Example Agenda Template<file:///L:/Outreach%20Program/Technical%20Resource%20Coordinator/Promotions/2025%20Previously%20Posted/Example%20Agenda%20Template>.
  *   Fiscal Responsibility | Time to get a grip on financial controls? DOJ has recommendations.<https://www.doj.state.or.us/charitable-activities/laws-guides-for-charities/financial-control-recommendations-small-nonprofits/>
  *   Board Responsibilities | A Guide to Nonprofit Board Service in Oregon<https://www.doj.state.or.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/guide-nonprofit-board-service.pdf> can chart your path to better understanding your role.
  *   Watch | 20 Questions Board Members Should Be Asking<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvTvKoLubOE> with Oregon DOJ!
  *   Board Job Descriptions | These board member job descriptions<https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/OH/Documents/Job%20Descriptions%20For%20Board%20Members%20And%20Officers.pdf> are helpful starting points, just remove ‘Main Street’ language & insert your organization’s name, mission, and actionable items.
  *   Board Engagement & Organizational Culture | Ask yourself the tough questions in this Board Training Guide<https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/OH/Documents/Board%20Training%20Packet%20_Oregon%20Heritage%20Summit_03.07.2019.pdf> to self-assess.
  *   Too Many Ideas? | Does your board struggle prioritizing too many incredible ideas? Adapt this decision-making process<https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/OH/Documents/Idea%20Process%20Flow%20Chart.pdf> and create an ‘idea submission form’<https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/OH/Documents/Idea%20Submission%20Form.pdf> like this one to keep focused on mission and consider capacity.
  *   Prioritize Projects | Adapt this prioritization template<https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/OH/Documents/TEMPLATE%20-%20Project%20Rubric%20%26%20Prioritization.xlsx> to your board’s needs.
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National Park Service Lists Arthur H. Devers House in National Register of Historic Places
The Arthur H. Devers House in northwest Portland is among Oregon’s newest entries in the National Register of Historic Places. The State Advisory Committee on Historic Preservation (SACHP) recommended the nomination at its October 2025 meeting for the property’s association with prominent turn-of-the-century Portland businessman and civic leader Arthur H. Devers. The National Park Service, which maintains the National Register, accepted the nomination in late February 2026.
Completed in 1891 and located at 1125 NW 21st Avenue, the Devers House served as the longtime residence of Arthur H. Devers during the most formative years of his commercial and civic career. Devers was a co‑owner of Closset & Devers, one of the Pacific Northwest’s first prominent coffee and tea importers, and by the early twentieth century had become one of Portland’s better known business figures. While living in the house between 1891 and 1908, he played a central role in shaping major regional initiatives, including planning the Lewis and Clark Exposition of 1905, securing political support and federal funding for the Dalles‑Celilo Canal, and helping establish the “City Beautiful” committee that evolved into the Civic Improvement League, which later commissioned Edward Bennett’s Progressive‑era plan for Portland. The house is the property most directly associated with Devers during this influential period, and it reflects the social aspirations and rising prominence of a self‑made leader whose impact on Portland’s commercial and civic development was widely recognized.
The National Register is maintained by the National Park Service under the authority of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. Properties listed in the National Register are:

  *   Recognized as significant to the nation, state, or community;
  *   Considered in the planning of federal or federally-assisted projects;
  *   Eligible for certain federal and state tax benefits;
  *   Qualified for historic preservation grants when funds are available;
  *   Eligible for leniency in meeting certain building code requirements;
  *   Subject to local laws pertaining to the conservation and protection of historic resources.
State law in Oregon requires local governments to offer a minimal level of protection for properties listed in the National Register of Historic Places; decisions about how to accomplish that goal reside with local governments, which also have the authority to create and regulate local historic districts and landmarks.
Interested in learning more about the National Register of Historic Places? Visit the National Register program webpage at https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/OH/pages/national-register.aspx to explore listed properties, review eligibility criteria and the nomination timeline, access research tools, and—if you are curious whether your property might qualify—submit a Historic Resource Record (HRR) form to receive preliminary feedback from State Historic Preservation Office staff.
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Follow us on Facebook at @oregonheritage, on LinkedIn<https://www.linkedin.com/company/oregon-parks-and-recreation-department/>, on the Oregon Heritage Exchange blog<https://oregonheritage.wordpress.com/>.
Oregon Heritage News is a service of Oregon Heritage, a division of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department that includes the State Historic Preservation Office. Learn more about our programs at www.oregonheritage.org<http://www.oregonheritage.org/>. The news editor can be contacted at heritage.info at oprd.oregon.gov<mailto:heritage.info at oprd.oregon.gov>.

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