Historic Log Building Symposium

September 3 & 4, 2026 | Walker Education Center at Sam Houston State University, Huntsville

Pictured: Sam Houston’s Law Office building at the Sam Houston Memorial Museum in Huntsville.

Preservation Texas is convening a Historic Log Building Symposium to bridge the gap between field experience and technical research, establishing the first clear, Texas-specific best practices for the treatment of vernacular log buildings. Unlike theoretical conferences, the symposium will consist of working sessions aimed at producing a practical outcome: a Texas Log Building Preservation Manual for property owners, tradespeople, and stewards of historic sites.

While the National Park Service’s Preservation Brief on log buildings (published in 1991) provides important foundational guidance, Texas’s environmental conditions require a more specialized framework. The proposed manual will supplement national standards by addressing: (1) Regional Materials – Working with Texas-specific timber such as Post Oak, Bald Cypress, and Cedar; (2) Climate Adaptation – Mitigation strategies for extreme heat, high humidity, and rapid expansion/contraction cycles; and (3) Construction Traditions – Documenting and preserving regional joinery, notching, and chinking techniques unique to the region.

Call For Presentations

We are seeking case study–based presentations that demonstrate what works, what fails, and why. Proposals should be grounded in real projects or documented research rather than product pitches or general overviews. Proposals should clearly describe the methods used, the decision-making process, performance over time, and any measurable outcomes.

Participants will have the opportunity to contribute to a body of work that will help shape the preservation of historic log buildings in Texas for decades to come!

We Invite Proposals From:

• Craftspeople and heritage trades specialist

• Contractors and preservation practitioners

• Architects and engineers

• Conservators and material scientists

• Academics and researchers

• Building owners and stewards with documented projects

Priority Topics Include:

• DOCUMENTATION & INVESTIGATION

  • Digital documentation (photogrammetry, LiDAR, 3D scanning, measured drawings)

  • Condition assessment and forensic analysis

  • Historic material dating methods such as dendrochronology 

• MATERIAL REPAIR & REPLACEMENT

  • Wood rot diagnosis and repair methods

  • Consolidation vs. replacement decision frameworks

  • Log replacement/splicing techniques

  • Species selection and sourcing strategies

• ENVELOPE & WEATHER PROTECTION

  • Appropriate roofing materials (wood shingles vs. synthetic systems)

  • Chinking and daubing (historic mixes vs. modern synthetic products)

  • Adding or removing exterior siding over log walls

  • Moisture management strategies

• SYSTEMS INTEGRATION

  • Installing HVAC/climate control in log structures

  • Integrating modern MEP systems with minimal loss of historic fabric

  • Fire,  life safety, and accessibility upgrades

• RELOCATION & STRUCTURAL WORK

  • Methods for dismantling, moving, and reconstructing log buildings

  • Structural stabilization and foundation upgrades

• LESSONS LEARNED

  • Failed treatments and why they failed

  • Long-term performance studies (10+ years ideal) addressing alterations and changes over time

  • Adaptive reuse strategies that are synergistic with historic log construction design.

• BUILDING TYPES

  • Dogtrot/open-hall forms and climate-responsive adaptations

  • Other regional vernacular Texas log typologies

Selected Presentations Will Contribute To:

1. Symposium proceedings

2. Technical papers

3. Texas-focused Preservation Brief/ Manual

4. Shared knowledge base for owners and practitioners statewide