Our History
The conference began as an idea of Robert B. Burke, founder and first director of the Office of Protection Services at the Smithsonian Institution.
In 1977, just 20 people from the Smithsonian gathered for the inaugural conference. Now, four decades later, the conference unites participants from large and small cultural organizations across the United States and abroad.
Our Mission
The National Conference on Cultural Property Protection offers insight and proven solutions for new and seasoned professionals in the field of cultural property protection.
Our programming has evolved as the industry has expanded, embracing collaboration and an interdisciplinary focus on cultural heritage protection and preservation. We are always looking for new ways to meet your educational needs.
The Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is the founder and driver of the National Conference on Cultural Property Protection. Heritage preservation is our core strength, with exemplary skills in security, facilities construction and management, and collections stewardship.
A volunteer board of directors provides oversight and ideas for the conference. The director of the Smithsonian Institution’s Office of Protection Services serves as chair.
