About


The SIA is made up of members, world-wide, who have a strong interest in preserving, interpreting and documenting our industrial past and heritage. Whatever your profession or favorite pursuit, if you share our interest in the industrial past, we welcome you to join us.

With headquarters at the Department of Social Sciences at Michigan Technological University in Houghton, Michigan, the SIA is the North American forum for those who share an interest in industrial archeology. Through the organization’s four principal activities-an annual spring conference, an annual fall tour, semiannual journal, and quarterly newsletter-SIA members share their knowledge and raise awareness of the value of preserving the physical evidence of industry and technology.

The society’s annual conferences and fall tours are held in various cities and areas of the United States and Canada having a significant legacy of industrial activity. Both activities feature field trips to industrial and engineering sites of interest, including “process tours” of still-active plants not normally open to the public.

In addition to our regular programs and activities, the SIA makes annual awards for distinguished contributions to the field, sponsors occasional international study tours as well as awarding historic preservation grants. Local SIA chapters also offer programs and publications of regional interest.