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.
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.
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.
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
Preservation News From Across The State
Congratulations to the 2026 “Rural Preservation” Preservation at Its Best Award winner, The Villages of Van Buren for their Preserving the Villages Historic Communities Together project! The Villages of Van Buren is a county-wide, collaborative organization dedicated to preserving, promoting, and activating the historic and cultural resources of Van Buren County, Iowa. Comprised of multiple small communities, the Villages collectively steward a landscape of historic buildings, districts, museums, depots, and archeological sites that reflect Iowa’s early settlement and transportation history. The organization works with local partners to ensure that historic sites are not only maintained, but also actively used and experienced by residents and visitors. Its work spans educational outreach, heritage tourism development, and direct organizational support for historic sites. Examples of partners include the Bonaparte Pottery & Artisan Market, the Farmington Pioneer Museum, and the Southeast Iowa Depot Tour. Additionally, the Villages coordinates group tours to historic sites, collaborates with the Historic Hills Scenic Byway on interpretive panels, and promotes heritage assets through ongoing marketing and programming. Its office, located in a late 1800s historic cottage and home to the McCoy Historical Museum, further demonstrates its commitment to active preservation and interpretation. Congratulations to The Villages of Van Buren on winning the 2026 Rural Preservation Award!
Congratulations to the 2026 “Single-Family Residential Rehab” Preservation at Its Best Award winner, the Matthew 25 1316 3rd Ave. SE House, in Cedar Rapids! The House at 1316 Third Ave SE represents residential architectural styles and vernacular homes appearing in Cedar Rapids’ neighborhoods during the 2nd and 3rd Avenue Historic District’s period of significance, 1890-1940. In 1848, the land where the house now sits was part of a federal land patent granted by President James K. Polk. The property was sold to Joshua Phillips for one dollar per acre. In 1854, Coe College purchased it. In 1882, Coe College sold the property. By the 1890s, the neighborhood was filled with impressive homes built for Cedar Rapids’ growing upper middle class. A local architect was hired to add a second story to the home in the Colonial Revival style. In 1919, the house was converted into a duplex, with a kitchen added upstairs. Raymond Westrom purchased the house in the early 1970s. Ray worked as the chef at Cedar Rapids’ famous Roosevelt Hotel. He was an extraordinary collector. Visitors could find everything from Grant Wood’s framed butterfly collection to props from the movie “Gone With the Wind.” He gave tours to perhaps thousands of people visiting the home over the years. He added his own touches to the property; an enclosed front porch, a sunroom, a garage, and most dramatically, the cupola tower. The house was left to St. Paul’s United Methodist Church next door by Westrom. For nearly two decades the home stood vacant and has seen prolonged neglect and deferred maintenance. In 2025 the church gifted the property to Matthew 25, along with $150,000 toward its restoration, launching a partnership making its revival possible. Matthew 25’s mission is to improve the health of people and neighborhoods by investing in quality affordable housing, healthy food, educational opportunities, and community building. In May 2025, work on the exterior began. Matthew 25 has completed hundreds of rehabilitation projects locally since its inception in 2007. The organization has rehabbed and currently owns 24 local rental properties. The house at 1316 Third Ave SE restoration is significant to Matthew 25’s as it is its first historic property to rehabilitate. The building is owned by Matthew 25 of Cedar Rapids. The project was completed with the help of Preservation Architect Emily Meyer of New Leaf Redevelopment Consulting in Cedar Rapids. Congratulations again to everyone involved in the Matthew 25 1316 3rd Ave. SE House project for winning the Single-Family Residential Rehab Award.
Congratulations to the 2026 “Multi-Family Residential Rehab” Preservation at Its Best Award winner, the 19th Street Double House in Des Moines! The double house at 727–729 19th Street is a rare and significant example of Free Classic Victorian Queen Anne architecture within the Sherman Hill Historic District - Des Moines’ oldest residential suburb and a neighborhood listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Unlike many single-family Victorian homes in Sherman Hill, this structure was designed as a duplex, representing upper-middle-class urban living and offering insight into the evolution of housing density and design during the late 19th century. Prior to the project, the home stood as a deteriorating yet highly visible artifact of the neighborhood’s past. Its largely unaltered front façade served as a “window to the past,” reinforcing the historic integrity of the streetscape. After restoration, the property not only regains its architectural prominence but also reinforces Sherman Hill’s identity as a living historic neighborhood - demonstrating that preservation can sustain both cultural heritage and modern residential use. The building is owned by Astilbe Morning LLC. Design and construction was completed by Silent Rivers Design+Build. Congratulations to everyone involved with the 19th Street Double House project for winning the 2026 Multi-Family Residential Rehab Award!
Some good news for a 2023 Most Endangered Property!
Congratulations to the 2026 “Commercial Rehab – Small Scale” Preservation at Its Best Award winner, The Gray Moon Public Market in Newton. The Montgomery Ward & Co. building is a two-story double-wide brick building constructed on a brick foundation. The building was constructed in 1909 as a two-story garage and operated as a garage, selling and servicing automobiles for 20 years. The building was remodeled so that Montgomery Ward & Co. could lease the building for a department store starting in 1929, operating until the store closed in 1985. Fifteen plus years of underutilization and vacancy were not kind to the building. The building had become dilapidated and improvements to the outside facade and interior were strongly needed. The rehabilitation converted a multi-story department store into an indoor market that draws locals, entrepreneurs, and visitors to engage with both Newton’s past and Newton’s future. The open floor plan accommodates rentable units designed to provide flexible, scalable space for fledgling entrepreneurs, chefs, craftspeople and artists to establish and grow their business. The building houses 21 active businesses, with two additional tenants preparing to open. The building is owned by Jerry Schwaller of Ex Nihilo LLC. The project was completed with the assistance of Project Architect Alex Streyffeler, Preservation Architect Scott Allen -both of OPN Architects in Des Moines-, and Preservation Consultant Jack Topp, Architect, of Topp Wright Architecture in Newton. Congratulations to everyone involved with the Gray Moon Public Market project for winning the 2026 Commercial Rehab – Small Scale award!
Looking to sharpen your preservation skills? Come to Minneapolis! forum.napcommissions.org/ Registration is now open for FORUM 2026: Preservation Currents, taking place July 22–26, 2026, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. FORUM is NAPC’s biennial conference and the only national gathering focused exclusively on the challenges and opportunities facing local historic preservation commissions and staff. Rooted in NAPC’s mission to strengthen local preservation through education, training, and advocacy, FORUM offers five days of dynamic programming designed to support your work at the local level. A Full Conference Registration includes: ● Educational sessions and discussion panels on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday ● Friday Opening Plenary ● Friday Evening Reception at Mill City Museum ● Saturday Commission Excellence Awards Celebration ● Opportunity to sign up for mobile tours and workshops ● Networking opportunities throughout the conference NAPC members receive a $100 discounted registration rate. In appreciation of our members, NAPC is also offering a Special Event Bundle only available to members during the early bird registration window. The bundle includes a full conference registration and admission to two ticketed special events at a discounted price. The events included in the bundle are: ● Thursday Evening Reception at Pillsbury A Mill Artist Lofts ● Saturday Luncheon with Jeanelle Austin If you're not already a member, now is the time to join!
