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
A huge "thank you" to Grant Darrah and the Gradient9 Studios team for the brilliant branding and website reconstruction recently completed for Preservation Iowa! If you haven't checked it out yet, visit https://preservationiowa.org asap! Support our advocacy and education efforts around preservation across the state by becoming a member for as low as $50 ($25 for students!).
2026 MOST ENDANGERED PROPERTIES Thank you to everyone across Iowa who nominated a property they care about to the Preservation Iowa 2026 Most Endangered Properties list. The sites highlighted over the past week are all in danger of deterioration or demolition. Our state's historic structures are a source of pride for many, and rehabilitation work can be a catalyst for reinvestment in the surrounding blocks. Please help spread the word! Check out Preservation Iowa’s website for more information about the Most Endangered Property program. www.preservationiowa.org Support the Most Endangered Properties Program and other of Preservation Iowa’s historic preservation education and advocacy programs by becoming a Preservation Iowa member today.
Become a Member/DonateProfessional memberships come with a listing in the statewide historic preservation directory!
6th and Final Property To Be Announced 2026 MOST ENDANGERED PROPERTY 100-102 N. Main Street, Conrad, Grundy County For over a century, this downtown property has continuously served as a hub for local commerce and community activity in Conrad. Built in the early 1900s, this structure reflects the growth and development of Conrad during the early 20th century. The ornate façade is a blend of Romanesque Revival and Commercial styles and is representative of early 20th century commercial architecture in Iowa. Today, it houses a business office and a salon and spa on the ground floor and four occupied upper-level apartments. It continues to be a key structure to Conrad’s Main Street. In 2013, it was part of a downtown revitalization project that funded work on the front facade including new awnings, a storefront replacement, and replacement of missing decorative cornice pieces. But significant maintenance work is still required. The building is in need of extensive repointing especially on the side elevations and back to prevent moisture intrusion and stabilize brickwork. In addition, the windows need replacement. The current owner is attentive to maintaining the architectural and historic integrity of the building, however, the costs to complete the needed work are formidable and not economically feasible for her at this time. Efforts to identify potential funding options are currently being explored by the owner and Conrad’s Main Street.
5th Property To Be Announced 2026 MOST ENDANGERED PROPERTY Trinity Church, Forest City, Winnebago County Reputed to be the oldest surviving structure in Winnebago County, this c. 1875 church retains the pews, altar, tin ceilings and flooring from when it was last used as a church. A basement was added to the structure in 1926. It was donated to the Winnebago Historical Society about 10 years ago and since then, it has hosted concerts and events and been rented out for other functions. In recent years, however, the increasing maintenance needs of the church have become a significant financial burden for the Historical Society. One of the biggest concerns is water infiltration and the resulting mold in the 1920s basement. Since it is not currently used but once or twice a year, the Historical Society is considering its sale.
https://dailyiowan.com/2026/01/20/iowa-lawmakers-propose-requirements-for-historical-research-centers-amid-centennial-building-closure-debate/
4th Property To Be Announced 2026 MOST ENDANGERED PROPERTY Riverton Chautauqua Pavilion, Fremont County This 12-sided pavilion sits atop a hill in the City Park at Riverton. The open-air structure was completed in 1897 and was intended to provide a stage for encampments of the newly founded Patriots of America. William Harvey founded the populist organization to advocate for the free coining of silver and support political candidates favorable to that cause. Harvey is said to have put up $500 toward the Riverton pavilion’s construction. He reportedly chose Riverton because Fremont County had the greatest number of Patriots of America lodges of any county in the U.S. Yearly encampments of the fraternal organization were held in Riverton between 1897-1901. The order died out shortly thereafter. Since then, the pavilion has hosted Chautauqua shows, Sunday School and church services, school graduations, May Day services and other community events. The pavilion was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. Significant repairs to the pavilion were done as a community bicentennial project in 1976. In more recent years, moisture and lack of regular maintenance have led to deterioration of the roof and supporting cedar posts. The Riverton Hometown Pride group has lately taken an active role in preserving the pavilion. They received a Paint Iowa Beautiful grant in 2024, and a State Historical Society of Iowa Field Services grant to hire a consultant to evaluate the needs of the structure. That evaluation showed that there is much more that needs to be done to preserve this piece of local and U.S. history and resources in this rural community are limited.
