Building on the Past for Iowa's Future.

Preservation Iowa builds partnerships that enhance our economic and cultural future through the preservation of Iowa’s historic resources.

Learn How You Can Help!

Building on the Past for Iowa's Future.

Preservation Iowa builds partnerships that enhance our economic and cultural future through the preservation of Iowa’s historic resources.

Learn How You Can Help!

Building on the Past for Iowa's Future.

Preservation Iowa builds partnerships that enhance our economic and cultural future through the preservation of Iowa’s historic resources.

Learn How You Can Help!
Building on the Past
for Iowa's Future.
Learn How You Can Help!

Building partnerships that enhance our economic and cultural future through the preservation of Iowa's historic resources.

The future of Iowa is sustainable communities with an authentic sense of place created by their important historic structures. The rehabilitation and reuse of our historic buildings is both economically attractive and environmentally responsible; it is important to citizens and visitors to our state as well as for future generations.

Read More About Who We Are

Iowa Programs

Iowa’s Most Endangered Properties

Iowa’s Most Endangered Properties began in 1995 to show Iowans the special buildings and historic sites that are slowly and gradually slipping away from us. The program provides an excellent resource for media coverage and introduces endangered property owners to preservation advocates and resources that can help preserve their historic property.

View the Full List of Properties

Preservation at Its Best Awards

Each year Preservation Iowa seeks to honor statewide successes through the “Preservation at its Best Awards”. In doing so, we hope to inspire others to take action to preserve, protect, and promote Iowa’s historic resources. Additionally these projects highlight the work being done around the state to preserve our historic infrastructures by re-purposing them to allow reintegration into their local communities.

View the Full List of Properties

Explore Our Resources

View All Our Resources

Business
Directory

Learn More

National Register
of Historic Places

Learn More

Researching a
Historic Property

Learn More

Historic
Tax Credits

Learn More

Property Types

Preservation Iowa focuses on providing information, raising awareness and protecting property types that hold special significance for Iowans.

Its efforts encompass a wide range of historic resources, including residential buildings, commercial and industrial structures, sacred places, schools, and movie theaters, as well as rural properties such as farmsteads and barns.

Residential

Movie Theaters

Sacred Places

Commercial & Industrial

Schools

Farmsteads & Barns

Read More About These Historic Resources
Property Types for Preservation Iowa

Preservation News From Across The State

July 7, 2026

The Maytag Plant No. 1 Historic District in Newton was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 25, 2026. This district has state level significance as a place of industry and invention beginning with the manufacture of the company’s first washing machines in the first decade of the twentieth century. The Maytag Company was a major employer and economic catalyst for the central part of Iowa, and their successes and troubles had ripple effects throughout the state. The company became one of the largest domestic appliance manufacturers in the world, growing and expanding within the current district boundaries through 1949, when it expanded into a second, larger factory campus about one mile away on the northeast edge of the city. Maytag also rose to the forefront of the Iowa industrial labor conscience through the 1930s with a number of significant labor negotiations and disputes, requiring in 1938 for Governor Nelson G. Kraschel and his surrogates to guide negotiations and assign the Iowa National Guard to oversee pickets and returns to the factory. Significant dates include periods of largescale construction at Maytag Plant No. 1, namely 1905, the 1910s, 1938. They also include years in which significant developments were made within the company, such as the introduction of their first washing machine line (1907), specific inventions/innovations, like the gyrafoam washer (1922), or particularly important industrial contributions such as wartime production (1941-1945). Congratulations Newton! #newtoniowarocks #newtoniowa #IowaHistory #iowahistory #iowahistoryjournal #IowaHistoryDaily

The Maytag Plant No. 1 Historic District in Newton was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 25, 2026. This district has state level significance as a place of industry and invention beginning with the manufacture of the company’s first washing machines in the first decade of the twentieth century. The Maytag Company was a major employer and economic catalyst for the central part of Iowa, and their successes and troubles had ripple effects throughout the state. The company became one of the largest domestic appliance manufacturers in the world, growing and expanding within the current district boundaries through 1949, when it expanded into a second, larger factory campus about one mile away on the northeast edge of the city. Maytag also rose to the forefront of the Iowa industrial labor conscience through the 1930s with a number of significant labor negotiations and disputes, requiring in 1938 for Governor Nelson G. Kraschel and his surrogates to guide negotiations and assign the Iowa National Guard to oversee pickets and returns to the factory. Significant dates include periods of largescale construction at Maytag Plant No. 1, namely 1905, the 1910s, 1938. They also include years in which significant developments were made within the company, such as the introduction of their first washing machine line (1907), specific inventions/innovations, like the gyrafoam washer (1922), or particularly important industrial contributions such as wartime production (1941-1945). Congratulations Newton! #newtoniowarocks #newtoniowa #IowaHistory #iowahistory #iowahistoryjournal #IowaHistoryDaily
The Maytag Plant No. 1 Historic District in Newton was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 25, 2026. This district has state level significance as a place of industry and invention beginning with the manufacture of the company’s first washing machines in the first decade of the twentieth century. The Maytag Company was a major employer and economic catalyst for the central part of Iowa, and their successes and troubles had ripple effects throughout the state. The company became one of the largest domestic appliance manufacturers in the world, growing and expanding within the current district boundaries through 1949, when it expanded into a second, larger factory campus about one mile away on the northeast edge of the city. Maytag also rose to the forefront of the Iowa industrial labor conscience through the 1930s with a number of significant labor negotiations and disputes, requiring in 1938 for Governor Nelson G. Kraschel and his surrogates to guide negotiations and assign the Iowa National Guard to oversee pickets and returns to the factory. Significant dates include periods of largescale construction at Maytag Plant No. 1, namely 1905, the 1910s, 1938. They also include years in which significant developments were made within the company, such as the introduction of their first washing machine line (1907), specific inventions/innovations, like the gyrafoam washer (1922), or particularly important industrial contributions such as wartime production (1941-1945). Congratulations Newton! #newtoniowarocks #newtoniowa #IowaHistory #iowahistory #iowahistoryjournal #IowaHistoryDaily The Maytag Plant No. 1 Historic District in Newton was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 25, 2026. This district has state level significance as a place of industry and invention beginning with the manufacture of the company’s first washing machines in the first decade of the twentieth century. The Maytag Company was a major employer and economic catalyst for the central part of Iowa, and their successes and troubles had ripple effects throughout the state. The company became one of the largest domestic appliance manufacturers in the world, growing and expanding within the current district boundaries through 1949, when it expanded into a second, larger factory campus about one mile away on the northeast edge of the city. Maytag also rose to the forefront of the Iowa industrial labor conscience through the 1930s with a number of significant labor negotiations and disputes, requiring in 1938 for Governor Nelson G. Kraschel and his surrogates to guide negotiations and assign the Iowa National Guard to oversee pickets and returns to the factory. Significant dates include periods of largescale construction at Maytag Plant No. 1, namely 1905, the 1910s, 1938. They also include years in which significant developments were made within the company, such as the introduction of their first washing machine line (1907), specific inventions/innovations, like the gyrafoam washer (1922), or particularly important industrial contributions such as wartime production (1941-1945). Congratulations Newton! #newtoniowarocks #newtoniowa #IowaHistory #iowahistory #iowahistoryjournal #IowaHistoryDaily +1 The Maytag Plant No. 1 Historic District in Newton was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 25, 2026. This district has state level significance as a place of industry and invention beginning with the manufacture of the company’s first washing machines in the first decade of the twentieth century. The Maytag Company was a major employer and economic catalyst for the central part of Iowa, and their successes and troubles had ripple effects throughout the state. The company became one of the largest domestic appliance manufacturers in the world, growing and expanding within the current district boundaries through 1949, when it expanded into a second, larger factory campus about one mile away on the northeast edge of the city. Maytag also rose to the forefront of the Iowa industrial labor conscience through the 1930s with a number of significant labor negotiations and disputes, requiring in 1938 for Governor Nelson G. Kraschel and his surrogates to guide negotiations and assign the Iowa National Guard to oversee pickets and returns to the factory. Significant dates include periods of largescale construction at Maytag Plant No. 1, namely 1905, the 1910s, 1938. They also include years in which significant developments were made within the company, such as the introduction of their first washing machine line (1907), specific inventions/innovations, like the gyrafoam washer (1922), or particularly important industrial contributions such as wartime production (1941-1945). Congratulations Newton! #newtoniowarocks #newtoniowa #IowaHistory #iowahistory #iowahistoryjournal #IowaHistoryDaily
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July 4, 2026

Congratulations to all of the SHSI Preservation Projects of Merit Award Winners! Preservation Projects of Merit awards recognize historic preservation projects that exemplify the best of preservation practices, meet the U.S. Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation of Historic Buildings, and utilize the State Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program. All eligible projects were those which received final approval for state tax credits during the Iowa 2025 fiscal year. The Edward H. Jones House is the recipient of the Judith A. McClure Award. The Judith A. McClure Award recognizes outstanding preservation of a residential property with two or less residential units using State Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program incentives. The French Way is the recipient of the Adrian D. Anderson Award. This award recognizes outstanding preservation of a small preservation project (less than $750,000) using State Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program incentives. The Churchill Lofts is the recipient of the Margaret Keyes Award which recognizes outstanding preservation of a large historic preservation project (more than $750,000) using State Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program Incentives. The Warnock-Benson Building is the recipient of the William J. Wagner Award. The William J. Wagner award recognizes the historic preservation project which exemplifies conformance with U.S. Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation while using State Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program Incentives. Congratulations to all of the SHSI Preservation Projects of Merit Award Winners!

Congratulations to all of the SHSI Preservation Projects of Merit Award Winners! Preservation Projects of Merit awards recognize historic preservation projects that exemplify the best of preservation practices, meet the U.S. Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation of Historic Buildings, and utilize the State Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program. All eligible projects were those which received final approval for state tax credits during the Iowa 2025 fiscal year. The Edward H. Jones House is the recipient of the Judith A. McClure Award. The Judith A. McClure Award recognizes outstanding preservation of a residential property with two or less residential units using State Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program incentives. The French Way is the recipient of the Adrian D. Anderson Award. This award recognizes outstanding preservation of a small preservation project (less than $750,000) using State Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program incentives. The Churchill Lofts is the recipient of the Margaret Keyes Award which recognizes outstanding preservation of a large historic preservation project (more than $750,000) using State Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program Incentives. The Warnock-Benson Building is the recipient of the William J. Wagner Award. The William J. Wagner award recognizes the historic preservation project which exemplifies conformance with U.S. Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation while using State Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program Incentives. Congratulations to all of the SHSI Preservation Projects of Merit Award Winners!
Congratulations to all of the SHSI Preservation Projects of Merit Award Winners! Preservation Projects of Merit awards recognize historic preservation projects that exemplify the best of preservation practices, meet the U.S. Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation of Historic Buildings, and utilize the State Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program. All eligible projects were those which received final approval for state tax credits during the Iowa 2025 fiscal year. The Edward H. Jones House is the recipient of the Judith A. McClure Award. The Judith A. McClure Award recognizes outstanding preservation of a residential property with two or less residential units using State Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program incentives. The French Way is the recipient of the Adrian D. Anderson Award. This award recognizes outstanding preservation of a small preservation project (less than $750,000) using State Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program incentives. The Churchill Lofts is the recipient of the Margaret Keyes Award which recognizes outstanding preservation of a large historic preservation project (more than $750,000) using State Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program Incentives. The Warnock-Benson Building is the recipient of the William J. Wagner Award. The William J. Wagner award recognizes the historic preservation project which exemplifies conformance with U.S. Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation while using State Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program Incentives. Congratulations to all of the SHSI Preservation Projects of Merit Award Winners! Congratulations to all of the SHSI Preservation Projects of Merit Award Winners! Preservation Projects of Merit awards recognize historic preservation projects that exemplify the best of preservation practices, meet the U.S. Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation of Historic Buildings, and utilize the State Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program. All eligible projects were those which received final approval for state tax credits during the Iowa 2025 fiscal year. The Edward H. Jones House is the recipient of the Judith A. McClure Award. The Judith A. McClure Award recognizes outstanding preservation of a residential property with two or less residential units using State Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program incentives. The French Way is the recipient of the Adrian D. Anderson Award. This award recognizes outstanding preservation of a small preservation project (less than $750,000) using State Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program incentives. The Churchill Lofts is the recipient of the Margaret Keyes Award which recognizes outstanding preservation of a large historic preservation project (more than $750,000) using State Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program Incentives. The Warnock-Benson Building is the recipient of the William J. Wagner Award. The William J. Wagner award recognizes the historic preservation project which exemplifies conformance with U.S. Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation while using State Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program Incentives. Congratulations to all of the SHSI Preservation Projects of Merit Award Winners! +5 Congratulations to all of the SHSI Preservation Projects of Merit Award Winners! Preservation Projects of Merit awards recognize historic preservation projects that exemplify the best of preservation practices, meet the U.S. Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation of Historic Buildings, and utilize the State Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program. All eligible projects were those which received final approval for state tax credits during the Iowa 2025 fiscal year. The Edward H. Jones House is the recipient of the Judith A. McClure Award. The Judith A. McClure Award recognizes outstanding preservation of a residential property with two or less residential units using State Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program incentives. The French Way is the recipient of the Adrian D. Anderson Award. This award recognizes outstanding preservation of a small preservation project (less than $750,000) using State Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program incentives. The Churchill Lofts is the recipient of the Margaret Keyes Award which recognizes outstanding preservation of a large historic preservation project (more than $750,000) using State Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program Incentives. The Warnock-Benson Building is the recipient of the William J. Wagner Award. The William J. Wagner award recognizes the historic preservation project which exemplifies conformance with U.S. Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation while using State Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program Incentives. Congratulations to all of the SHSI Preservation Projects of Merit Award Winners!
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July 2, 2026

What are you ideas for "irreplaceable" sites in Iowa? The World Monuments Fund Names 10 "Irreplaceable America" Sites for the 250th Anniversary of the United States Independence.

5 Comments
June 27, 2026

The National Park Service has announced that the following grant programs are now open for application: • Underrepresented Communities Grant Program (Deadline July 7) • African American Civil Rights Grant program (Deadline July 14) • History of Equal Rights Grant Program (Deadline July 21) For more information, go to: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/historicpreservationfund/project-grants.htm The Dr. Percy and Lileah Harris House in Cedar Rapids, Iowa was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2021 with the support of the African American Civil Rights Grant program.

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June 26, 2026

Congratulations Amie Herrick! Amie has been awarded a National Trust for Historic Preservation Diversity in Preservation Scholarship! https://www.mississippivalleypublishing.com/the_hawk_eye/bit-by-the-preservation-bug/article_3e95378a-be85-42e7-874a-a3a7773c92a4.html #mellingerlibrary

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June 25, 2026

Built to Last: Historic Restoration Series Do you own a historic home or simply love preserving Des Moines history? Join us for the first session of our Built to Last Historic Restoration Series and learn the art of restoring original wood windows from professionals who do it every day. Hear from: 🔹 Josh Harper, Clean Slate Builds 🔹 Erica Simbro, Knox Plat Windows 📅 July 26, 2026 ⏰ 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM 📍 Des Moines Heritage Center, 120 E 5th Street Whether you're tackling a restoration project or just curious about historic preservation, this hands-on educational session will provide practical tips, expert insight, and inspiration to help preserve the character of historic buildings for generations to come.

Built to Last: Historic Restoration Series Do you own a historic home or simply love preserving Des Moines history? Join us for the first session of our Built to Last Historic Restoration Series and learn the art of restoring original wood windows from professionals who do it every day. Hear from: 🔹 Josh Harper, Clean Slate Builds 🔹 Erica Simbro, Knox Plat Windows 📅 July 26, 2026 ⏰ 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM 📍 Des Moines Heritage Center, 120 E 5th Street Whether you're tackling a restoration project or just curious about historic preservation, this hands-on educational session will provide practical tips, expert insight, and inspiration to help preserve the character of historic buildings for generations to come.
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