The Lake Forest Preservation Foundation and Ragdale present the Lake Forest Preservation Symposium from Friday, October 16 through Sunday, October 18, 2026, marking the 50th anniversaries of both organizations. Sessions take place at Ragdale, the former summer retreat of Chicago architect Howard Van Doren Shaw, at Lake Forest College, and at historic sites throughout Lake Forest.
Friday opens with a Founders’ Reception at Ragdale from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. honoring the founders of both organizations and early preservation advocates, with a preview of the exhibition “Fifty Years of Preservation and Art.”
Saturday is the main symposium day, at Ragdale and Lake Forest College’s Lily Reid Holt Memorial Chapel. “Why Preservation Matters: How is Lake Forest Different?” brings together Bonnie McDonald of Landmarks Illinois, architect Tom Rajkovich, and critic Blair Kamin. Geoffrey Baer moderates a session on the legacy of Howard Van Doren Shaw, David Adler and Stanley Anderson with Stuart Cohen, Stephen Salny and Paul Bergmann. An afternoon session, “Preservation vs. Progress: Who Owns the Future of Our Cities?,” features Steven Semes, Richard Economakis, Jason Wicha, Lee Bey and Javier Quintana de Uña, and Bill Kurtis moderates the closing session, “The Future of the Past: What’s Next for Preservation?”
Workshops run at Ragdale through the day on tax incentives for historic homeowners, window and roofing repair, and the Lake Forest Historic Preservation Commission process, alongside a garden luncheon and book signings.
Sunday is Community Heritage Day, with an open house tour of the Holt House and the David Lake House from 10:00 a.m. to noon and a closing reception at the Lake Forest Library.
Preservation Chicago encourages our members and readers to attend. The full three-day schedule and registration are available through the Lake Forest Preservation Foundation.