TICRAT

TICRAT | arizona 2026

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Registration Full! Thank You to our TICRAT | arizona 2026 Supporters!

About

Taller Internacional de Conservación y Restauración de Arquitectura de Tierra/International Workshop on the Conservation and Restoration of Earthen Architecture (TICRAT) is a bi-national partnership between the National Park Service and the Institutio Nacional de Antropología e Historia. Since 1994, these hands-on workshops have convened adobe experts from both countries to disseminate traditional earthen building practices and ensure the safeguarding of the integrated cultural heritage across the US-Mexico border. TICRAT | arizona 2026 is a project of the Missions Initiative in partnership with Patronato San Xavier, the Vanishing Treasures Program of the U.S. National Park Service, and the University of Arizona.

TICRAT | arizona 2026

TICRAT | arizona 2026 will be held at Tumacácori National Historical Park, Mission San Xavier del Bac, and Historic Canoa Ranch from Monday, March 16th – Friday, March 20th. Experts and instructors from the US and Mexico will lead hands-on training modules over a 4-day period to NPS and INAH staff, students, professionals, indigenous and other community members. The workshop sites, two of which are Spanish Colonial missions, provide unique opportunities to assess differences of earthen construction systems, current uses, conservation treatments, and stewardship models.

TICRAT | arizona 2026 is a 4-day workshop focused on earthen preservation practices that includes tours, presentations, and hands-on training in building condition assessment, adobe brickmaking and repair, lime and mud plaster application, and heritage stewardship. This workshop is intended for cultural resource professionals, students, educators, and community members with a specific focus on indigenous youth and young professionals.

*Cancellation Policy: Prior to February 12, 2026: 100% refund; Between February 12, 2026 – March 1, 2026: 50% refund; After March 2, 2026: 0% refund

For more information, please contact Emily Kulka, TICRAT 2026 Coordinator, at emilykulka@arizona.edu.

Deadline to Register: Thursday, February 12th, 2026

Dates: March 16th, 2026 – March 20th, 2026

Location: Tucson, Arizona

Sites: San Xavier del Bac Mission, Tumacácori National Historical Park and Historic Canoa Ranch

Program Overview

The preliminary program is for workshop orientation only; the final program will be distributed to registered participants prior to the workshop.

Best Western Green Valley Hotel

4:00pm – 6:00pm: TICRAT Registration and Check-In

6:00pm – 8:00pm – Welcome Reception

Tumacácori National Historical Park

8:00am – 5:00pm: Rotating Hands-on Modules

1.       Site Tour (orientation, preservation philosophy, current challenges & projects

2.       Adobe Brick Making (process of testing soil characteristics [jar test], admixtures, and moisture content; adobe characteristics; putting mud into forms to make bricks; observations on drying process.)

3.       Lime Plaster Application (lime plaster removal, mixing and application of sacrificial coat)

4.       Condition Assessment and Mud Plaster Application (Review of existing condition of walls and structure to develop skills in assessing the causes of deterioration and strategies to repair and prevent further damage; mud plaster removal, mixing and application of sacrificial coat)

Mission San Xavier del Bac

8:00am – 5:00pm: Rotating Hands-On Modules

5:00pm – 7:00pm: Dinner and Discussion

1.       Site Tour and Façade Project Tour (orientation, preservation philosophy, current challenges & projects

2.       Condition Assessment and Basal Stabilization (Condition assessment; techniques for adobe basal repair, including repointing, and split brick infill)

3.       Lime Plaster (Lime cycle; plaster preparation with nopal admixture; pigment mixing and application)

4.       Lime Plaster Application (Condition assessment; lime plaster coat)

Historic Canoa Ranch

8:00am – 5:00pm: Rotating Hands-on Modules

5:00pm – 8:00pm: Dinner and Music

1.       Site Tour (orientation, preservation philosophy, current challenges & projects)

2.       Condition Assessment, Wall & Lime Plaster Repair (Review of existing condition of walls and structure to develop skills in assessing the causes of deterioration and strategies to repair and prevent further damage; stitching, dry packing, patching)

3.       Adobe Wall Building (Construct low adobe wall)

Mission Garden

9:00am – 11:00am: Tour of Mission Garden

11:00am – 1:00pm: Closing Ceremony & Lunch

Program Resources

Missions Initiative is proud to offer the following educational resources on traditional earthen preservation skills, organized around a set of key topics. The resources include bilingual videos of hands-on demonstrations, presentations, tours, and case studies by international experts from the 2008 TICRAT (Taller Internacional de Conservación y Restauración de Arquitectura de Tierra) as well as videos from the 2021 SICRAT (Seminario Internacional de Conservación y Restauración de Arquitectura de Tierra). TICRAT | arizona 2026 participants are encouraged to review these materials prior to the commencement of the in-person workshop. 

Thank you to our sponsors!