ADC50 Mid-Year Meeting

This year's Mid-Year meeting will feature a variety of speakers and presenters focusing on current issues in Cultural Resources and Transportation. The conference will feature the ADC50 Committee Meeting on Sunday, a reception Sunday night, Conference Sessions on Monday and Tuesday, a tour of the Mill City Museum Monday afternoon, the Annual Banquet Monday night, and an all day tour on Wednesday.

Monday and Tuesday's paper sessions will take place at Open Book, a literary center located in three rehabilitated wareshouses and located right across the street from teh hotel.  http://www.openbookmn.org

A featured session is Section 106 Programmatic Agreements - What works / What Doesn't / Lessons Learned. The session is being sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) and will feature a half day Peer Exchange. The Peer Exchange will consist of a panel of eight members from four State DOT's and SHPOs as well as an audience of dozens of other state DOT's, SHPO's, and Consultants. The Peer Exchange will culminate in a discussion regarding relationship-building between State DOTs and SHPOs, developing and implementing Programmatic Agreements for Section 106 compliance, and expedited Project Delivery.

Other sessions will include a variety of topics, including: Regulatory Issues, Technology and Cultural Resources, Rural Landscapes, the Recent Past, and much more.  Additional details on the program will be available soon.

Sunday evening will feature our opening reception, which will be catered by local Oglala Lakota chef Sean Sherman, whose company only serves regional, locally sourced cuisine. Learn more at http://sioux-chef.com/about/ 

Annual Banquet!

This year's Banquet will on Monday night at the American Swedish Institute which is a gathering place for people to share experiences around themes of culture, migration, the environment and the arts, informed by induring links to Sweden. More information is available at www.asimn.org. The banquet will include a tour of the historic Turnblad Mansion and a Swedish smorgasbord featuring dishes such as gravlax, Swedish meatballs with lingonberry sauce, and Cardamom Bread Pudding with Brandy Caramel!

The banquet cost is included in the general registration costs. Guests can attend the banquet for an additional $50/person.

The Hotel!

The Conference Hotel is the Aloft Hotel. Aloft Minneapolis is in the heart of downtown in the trendy riverside Mill District, minutes from U.S. Bank Stadium, Target Field, and the Guthrie Theater. Enjoy stunning views of the Mississippi River from the Gold Medal Park directly across the street from the Hotel. Aloft offers fast and free WiFi throughout its modern spaces, a 24/7 fitness center including a salt water pool, and a pool table and shuffleboard table in the Re:mix lounge.

Please call the hotel at 1-866-716-8143 to make reservations, references ADC50 and MnDOT.  The conference rate for rooms is $145.00 plus tax.

More information on the hotel can be found at www.aloftminneapolis.com

Tours!

This year's conference features two tours:

Mill City Museum:  The conference schedule includes time on Tuesday afternoon to visit the Mill City Museum, located within an easy walk from the conference venue. Visit the Museum's website at www.millcitymuseum.org

This tour is an additional $10/person.

Historic Stillwater: Wednesday features an all-day tour to historic Stillwater. Located on the banks of the St. Croix River, a National Scenic Riverway, this quaint historic river town, considered the birthplace of Minnesota, has something for everyone: a historic Main Street, a mutiple-span operational Waddell and Harrington lift bridge, numerous historic sites that can be viewed through the city's planned walking tour, antique shops, art galleries, bookstores, craft breweries, and scenic views of the St. Croix River valley. After busing to the town in the morning, you will have time to explore the town's shops and historic sites. We'll then take a paddleboat trip on the river. Lunch will be provided on teh boat, and there will be a presentation by representatives from FHWA, Wisconsin DOT, Minnesota SHPO, and MnDOT on the complicated, multi-decade St. Croix River Project.

This tour is an additional $50/person.