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Send in your award nomination today! Nominations are due April 1, 2026. Preservation Iowa is looking for nominations in the following categories: Residential Rehabilitation (Single/Multi-Family) – Rehabilitation and continued use of single-family homes as well as multi-family residences. Commercial Rehabilitation (Small and Large) – Rehabilitation of a historic commercial building. Nominations accepted in two categories: small (under 5,000 total sq) and large (5,000 or more total sq). Adaptive Reuse – Conversion of a historic structure for a new or compatible use while retaining its architectural integrity. This category includes any mixed-use project. Public/Non-Profit Rehabilitation – Rehabilitation of a publicly/government/non-profit owned building. Maurice Losey Sacred Place – Rehabilitation/restoration/reuse of a sacred site, ground, space, place of religious assembly, such as a church, synagogue, mosque, or other related property. Rural Preservation – Preservation, restoration, or rehabilitation of the Iowa rural landscape, heritage, or built environment. Sustainability in Preservation – Incorporation of sustainable practices into the rehabilitation of a historic building. The project does not need to be LEED certified, but should demonstrate how it illustrates sustainable practices. Special Projects – Films, Books, Websites, Podcasts, Plays, etc. that tell Iowa’s stories and promote the preservation of Iowa’s historic resources. Community Effort Award – A community’s concerted effort to preserve, protect, and/or promote a historic building, structure, district, site, or cultural resource. Martha Hayes Preservationist of the Year Award – Individual or group that has championed historic preservation planning, policy, or activities in Iowa. Paula Mohr Certified Local Government of the Year Award – Honors invaluable contributions by an individual or organization to Iowa’s CLG Program and to historic preservation locally, statewide, regionally, and nationally. Nominations are due April 1, 2026. The Preservation at Its Best Awards celebrate exceptional achievements in historic preservation across Iowa. Each year, Preservation Iowa recognizes individuals, organizations, projects, and communities whose work demonstrates outstanding commitment to historic preservation. By honoring these achievements, the organization aims to inspire others to take meaningful action to protect, restore, and promote Iowa’s historic resources, fostering a broader culture of preservation throughout the state. Award-winning preservation projects often do more than celebrate preserved historic buildings – they demonstrate how these resources can be thoughtfully repurposed and reintegrated into their communities. By revitalizing housing, supporting local businesses, and drawing people back to downtowns and neighborhoods, these projects boost local economies while fostering community pride. They also inspire further preservation efforts, ensuring that Iowa’s rich heritage remains a vibrant and accessible part of everyday life. Award recipients are announced in June, at the statewide Preserve Iowa Summit in Ankeny, providing a high-profile platform to recognize exemplary preservation work and inspire others to engage in preservation efforts. By submitting a nomination, you help shine a spotlight on important preservation work in Iowa, celebrating the dedication, creativity, and impact of those who protect and revitalize the state’s historic resources.

Nominations for Preservation at Its Best Awards

https://www.kwqc.com/2026/03/24/davenport-schools-discuss-demolition-2-100-year-old-buildings/?outputType=amp

http://www.kwqc.com

Davenport Schools discuss demolition of 2 100 year old buildings

The Davenport School Board has a decision to make as two red…

Sharing this sad news and post by Marion Meginnis: DURING INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, LET'S CELEBRATE TWO WOMEN WHO SHEPARDED HISTORIC PRESERVATION IN DAVENPORT Over the past two weeks, we have lost two women that should be remembered. Marlys Svendsen was the first historic planner hired by an Iowa city. She worked for the city of Davenport from 1979 to the mid 1980s when she created her own preservation firm. Marlys was hired by Charley Heston to document historic buildings. When her work was completed, more than 1600 structures were listed in the National Register and more than a dozen neighborhoods had received historic status. But Marlys was more than a scholar performing a task. She engaged the public in workshops and public meetings. She compiled her books into several soft cover volumes published by Davenport. Her 1986 hard cover "Davenport A Pictorial History," sponsored by First Bank, celebrated the city's 150th Birthday. Marlys went on to have a distinguished preservation career. But here, as a 26-year-old recent graduate, she built a foundation that should inspire us all. One of Marlys' restoration projects was the Bishop's House aka The Hilltop Inn, on Brady Street. Toward the end of her life, her memory dimmed. A few years ago, her husband told me that, despite this, her favorite morning coffee mug sported a picture of the Bishop's House. https://www.legacy.com/.../name/marlys-svendsen-obituary... Mary Ellen Chamberlin, who passed away on March 17th, will be remembered for a very active community and political career. She, too, was a preservationist. Heading the Riverboat Development Authority, she saw clearly the role preservation could make in revitalizing struggling urban areas, an enormous challenge as the Quad Cities fought its way back from the Farm Crisis fallout in the 1980s and 1990s. She recognized the importance of heritage neighborhoods. She and the RDA board funded a number of preservation initiatives. https://www.hmdfuneralhome.com/obituaries/mary-chamberlin

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The countdown begins! It's less than two weeks away to nominate your project or favorite preservationist for a Preservation at Its Best Award! Nominations are due April 1, 2026. The Preservation at Its Best Awards celebrate exceptional achievements in historic preservation across Iowa. Each year, Preservation Iowa recognizes individuals, organizations, projects, and communities whose work demonstrates outstanding commitment to historic preservation. By honoring these achievements, the organization aims to inspire others to take meaningful action to protect, restore, and promote Iowa’s historic resources, fostering a broader culture of preservation throughout the state. Award-winning preservation projects often do more than celebrate preserved historic buildings – they demonstrate how these resources can be thoughtfully repurposed and reintegrated into their communities. By revitalizing housing, supporting local businesses, and drawing people back to downtowns and neighborhoods, these projects boost local economies while fostering community pride. They also inspire further preservation efforts, ensuring that Iowa’s rich heritage remains a vibrant and accessible part of everyday life. Award recipients are announced in June, at the statewide Preserve Iowa Summit in Ankeny, providing a high-profile platform to recognize exemplary preservation work and inspire others to engage in preservation efforts. By submitting a nomination, you help shine a spotlight on important preservation work in Iowa, celebrating the dedication, creativity, and impact of those who protect and revitalize the state’s historic resources. Information about how to nominate is at: https://preservationiowa.org/programs/preservation-at-its-best-awards/ #iowaaia #friendsofhistoricpreservation #savecrheritage

Register now for the Preserve Iowa Summit! Preservation Iowa members receive a special discount on registration! We look forward to this event every year, a chance to learn something new and make new preservation friends! The Preserve Iowa Summit is the premier conference for professional and volunteer preservationists in Iowa. Through expert presentations, workshops and mobile workshops, participants will learn new ways to preserve Iowa’s past for the future. This year's Preserve Iowa Summit will be June 2–3, 2026, at the FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny. Register here: https://opportunityiowa.gov/events/preserve-iowa-summit-0. Summit organizers have set aside a limited number of discounted registrations for Preservation Iowa members. Preservation Iowa members should watch their email for a special registration code worth a $40 off the cost of registration. If you're not a Preservation Iowa member, please join at: https://preservationiowa.org/ As part of the Summit, Preservation Iowa invites Summit attendees to an evening reception on Tuesday, June 2 from 5:30 to 7:30pm. Please rsvp for the reception when you register for the Summit. We look forward to seeing you!

http://opportunityiowa.gov

Preserve Iowa Summit

The Preserve Iowa Summit is the premier conference for professional and volunteer…

It's Women History Month! The Monuments Toolkit at World Heritage USA is hosting Women as Stewards of Heritage Webinar In honor of Women's History Month, the Monuments Toolkit at World Heritage USA is hosting Women as Stewards of Heritage, a webinar on Thursday, March 19 at 2 PM Eastern / 1 PM Central / 11 AM Pacific. Moderated by Program Director Diana Hernandez, we are honored to be joined by Dr. Georgette Grier-Key, Executive Director and Chief Curator of the Eastville Community Historical Society; Izel Lopez, Deputy Director of the Texas Tribal Buffalo Project; and Sehila Mota Casper, Executive Director of Latinos in Heritage Conservation. Together, these three visionaries are expanding the very definition of heritage, centering the knowledge, leadership, and living memory of African American, Indigenous, and Laitne women in the work of historic preservation today. Register here: https://usicomos.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/usicomos/eventRegistration.jsp?event=224&

Hart Family Fund for Small Towns: Guidelines & Eligibility Grants from the Hart Family Fund for Small Towns are intended to encourage preservation at the local level by providing seed money for preservation projects in small towns with populations of 10,000 or less. These grants help stimulate public discussion, enable local groups to gain the technical expertise needed for particular projects, introduce the public to preservation concepts and techniques, and encourage financial participation by the private sector. Grants from the Hart Family Fund for Small Towns generally range from $2,500 to $15,000. The selection process is very competitive. Deadline is May 1, 2026. More information here: https://savingplaces.org/hart-family-fund?utm_medium=email&utm_source=update&utm_campaign=grants

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Less than a month away to nominate your project or favorite preservationist for a Preservation at Its Best Award! Nominations are due April 1, 2026. The Preservation at Its Best Awards celebrate exceptional achievements in historic preservation across Iowa. Each year, Preservation Iowa recognizes individuals, organizations, projects, and communities whose work demonstrates outstanding commitment to historic preservation. By honoring these achievements, the organization aims to inspire others to take meaningful action to protect, restore, and promote Iowa’s historic resources, fostering a broader culture of preservation throughout the state. Award-winning preservation projects often do more than celebrate preserved historic buildings – they demonstrate how these resources can be thoughtfully repurposed and reintegrated into their communities. By revitalizing housing, supporting local businesses, and drawing people back to downtowns and neighborhoods, these projects boost local economies while fostering community pride. They also inspire further preservation efforts, ensuring that Iowa’s rich heritage remains a vibrant and accessible part of everyday life. Award recipients are announced in June, at the statewide Preserve Iowa Summit in Ankeny, providing a high-profile platform to recognize exemplary preservation work and inspire others to engage in preservation efforts. By submitting a nomination, you help shine a spotlight on important preservation work in Iowa, celebrating the dedication, creativity, and impact of those who protect and revitalize the state’s historic resources. Information about how to nominate is at: https://preservationiowa.org/programs/preservation-at-its-best-awards/ #iowaaia #friendsofhistoricpreservation #savecrheritage

Another National Register listing for Iowa! This time the property is in Storm Lake! Congratulations to the owners of the Lewis "Lew" J. Metcalf Residence whose property was listed for its architectural significance. This house, built in 1901, is an intact example of the Queen Anne style of architecture, popular in Iowa and throughout the country. The house has gambrel roofs, a porch, carriage port, and an unusual foundation made of granite. The Metcalf Residence was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 23, 2026. #stormlakeiowa #stormlakeia

Today, we feature the Masonic Temple in Walnut, Iowa recently listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its architectural significance. Built in 1911, this Classical Revival building incorporates principles and details associated with the Freemasons. The second floor lodge room has a dais for the master of the lodge and a pressed metal ceiling that includes the Masonic square, compass, and letter 'G." In the center of the lodge room ceiling is an unusual (and original) lighting fixture encircled with incandescent bulbs. The building is owned by the Walnut Creek Historical Society which operates it as a museum. The Masonic Temple of Walnut was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 23, 2026. Congratulations! #mainstreetwalnutcreek #walnutcreekhistoricalsociety #iowamasonry #iowamasoniclibraryandmuseum #iowamasons

Are you part of the preservation community and want to develop your leadership skills and expand your professional impact? Apply for the Harrison Goodall Preservation Fellowship! What is the Harrison Goodall Preservation Fellowship? Inspired by a gift from Harrison Goodall and made possible by Preservation Maryland, this program aims to develop enterprising professionals and students into the preservation leaders of tomorrow. The Fellowship awards $10,000 to support an innovative project in the historic preservation field. Fellows undertake capstone projects that will make a meaningful contribution to the broader historic preservation field and support the stewardship of historic resources nationwide. The Harrison Goodall Preservation Fellowship gives fellows the opportunity to: · focus on their professional development within historic preservation, · gain access to networking and resources, and · learn leadership competencies. Who can apply? This opportunity is aimed at preservation professionals, tradespeople, and students enrolled at least part-time in a preservation-related degree program. It is open to both public and private sector workers. Previous applicants can re-apply. How do I apply? To learn more about eligibility, expectations, and application details, visit the application information page: https://app.smarterselect.com/programs/77560-Preservation-Maryland At the bottom, you can preview the application by clicking the “Preview” link directly above the “Apply” button. The application is open Monday, February 2, through Monday, March 16, 2026. Selected applicants will be contacted for an interview with the selection committee by June. For More Information To view examples of past preservation projects and to apply, visit https://historictrades.org/goodall/. For programmatic and technical questions, email info@historictrades.org.

Iowa can boast of another National Register listed property! The most recent Iowa property to be listed on the National Register is the German Methodist Episcopal Church in Clayton County. The church is locally significant under Criteria C as the village of Giard’s only high-style architectural edifice as well as the only church in town. Built in 1902, the building is influenced by the Gothic Revival style most evident in the pointed-arch stained-glass windows and its original towers that emphasize the vertical line. This design choice was likely dictated by the overall popularity of the style for civic, institutional, and residential buildings, though that popularity was fading for domestic architecture by 1902. No architect is known but construction is credited to a local builder, William Fuelling, probably assisted by townsfolk and Methodist congregants. Larger Gothic Revival-styled churches can be found six or seven miles to the east in McGregor on the Mississippi River. The German Methodist Episcopal Church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 19, 2026. Congratulations! #McGregor HIstoric Preservation Commission #Clayton County Historic Preservation Commission #Clayton County Historical Society #Clayton County, Iowa