News
Stay informed and engaged with Preservation Iowa’s latest news, events, and initiatives dedicated to preserving the state’s historic places and promoting community revitalization. From advocacy efforts that shape state and local policies to innovative programs supporting historic preservation and economic development, Preservation Iowa is committed to making Iowa’s history a vibrant part of its future.
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PRESERVATION NEWS FROM ACROSS THE STATE
The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) has drafted new administrative rules for the Historic Tax Credit program. Key proposed changes are as follows: * Integration of previous Department of Cultural Affairs administrative rules, reflecting the State Historic Preservation Office's transition to IEDA in 2023. * Clarification regarding eligibility of single-family dwelling units, addressing legislation approved during the 2025 legislative session. *Addition of provisions that allow tax credit awards to be spread over two fiscal years, in response to recent legislative changes. *Revision of fees associated with Part 2 and Part 3 applications. *Removal of language already covered under Iowa Code chapter 404A.
Join Preservation Leadership Forum for a panel discussion to learn how organizations can leverage GIS in historic preservation. Participants will learn about several case studies that highlight how GIS platforms can empower communities and preservation professionals to manage and visualize their unique histories. This webinar is intended as a space to connect, share insights, and foster collaboration and learning about geo-enabled storytelling and data sharing. No prior experience in GIS is necessary. Jan 28, 2026 01:00 PM (Central) Register for this webinar at: https://savingplaces-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/8817655621191/WN_ZVnIMkIqRYW6o3Og62XqxA#/registration
Preservation Iowa invites you to renew your membership (or join us for the first time!) to help support the act of preserving Iowa’s history, particularly the spaces and places that make Iowa a great place to live and explore. Membership in Preservation Iowa provides a connection to others who value and advocate for preservation of Iowa’s historic resources. Your membership supports many programs: • Partnership for the annual Preserve Iowa Summit providing educational opportunities and networking to learn from others working to share the value of our historic treasures. • Quarterly newsletters highlighting success stories, available grants and latest preservation efforts. • Preservation at its Best awards program to recognize significant projects and promote future preservation efforts. • Most Endangered Properties Program that shares the stories of historic treasures in critical need of love, attention and an advocate. • An educational website that offers a wealth of information helpful to preservationists, including a list of preservation consultants and contractors. • Advocacy efforts to protect and retain state and federal historic tax credits and promote legislation favorable for historic preservation. Go to www.preservationiowa.org and click on Become a Member in the upper right-hand corner. You can join using a credit card or print out a membership form and mail a check. Thank you for your continued support of our efforts!
See inside Iowa City's centennial building as archival library closes
Time is running out! This is a great opportunity to learn how to advocate for preservation in our nation's capital! If you are a student, young professional, or amidst a mid-career shift in the historic preservation field and you have specific interest in preservation policy or federal advocacy, apply now to become a 2026 Bruce MacDougal Advocacy Scholar! Selected participants will participate in policy briefings and trainings, join congressional office visits, and attend key networking events. The scholarship includes complimentary National Historic Preservation Advocacy Week registration and a travel stipend. https://preservationaction.org/advocacy-scholars/
Des Moines has been waiting for a very long time for the Ingersoll movie theater to be saved! Congratulations to VenuWorks/White Oak Realty, Estes Construction, AKAY Consulting, and Sequel Architecture!
"Two Generations—A Family Connection on the Iowa Interstate": A Webinar Tuesday, January 13, 2026 7:00 PM U.S. Central Time (8 pm Eastern, 6 pm Mountain, and 5 pm Pacific) Father and son, Jeremy and Christian Schrader, make railroad photography a family affair. On January 13, they will share their photographic stories from the Iowa Interstate Railroad. Jeremy and his late father spent years chasing and photographing trains together, and now Jeremy is proud to see that same passion and tradition continuing with his son, Christian. Join us on Zoom to explore the art of rail photography with a father and son who prove that one train can inspire two completely different photographic approaches! To learn more and to register for this free event, go to: https://railphoto-art.org/ Photo caption and credit: An Iowa City evening with the eastbound CBBI (Council Bluffs to Blue Island) going by the Rock Island depot in the summer of 2024. Both Jeremy and Christian rely on electronic flashes for low-light photography. Photo by Christian Schrader.
State Historical Society officials announced an agreement Friday to maintain public access to Iowa’s historical collections at the University of Iowa.
Passing this information along from the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) 12/17/2025 Last night NPCA learned that Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) is offering an amendment to the Interior Appropriations (as part of the 2026 Labor-HHS, Defense, Transportation-HUD, Interior-Environment and Commerce-Justice-Science minibus) to strike language intended to maintain the National Park System as is. This amendment was introduced Monday. His amendment encourages selling-off, transferring and giving away national parks. It’s important to note that Lee is telling Senate leadership that he has 51 votes to pass his amendment. Lee’s amendment #3972 strikes Sec. 130 in S.2431: Sec. 130. The Department of the Interior shall maintain all Federal lands designated as, or as a part of, a national park unit, a national scenic or national historic trail, or a wild and scenic river as of May 2, 2025 as Federal land and continue to operate such unit, trail, or river as an entity of the National Park Service including for such purposes as Federal employee staffing and entry, permit, and other fee collections. NPCA believes that this amendment poses a very real threat. While some Congressional offices seem to believe that National Parks could never be on the chopping block, we have ample evidence that the Department of the Interior believes they should be. Please feel free to share these examples with any offices that may be skeptical: President Trump’s proposed $1.2 billion budget cut to parks would lead to de-funding at least 350 national park units, which would ultimately lead to their closure The previously leaked DOI strategic plan explicitly outlined the closure or transfer of federal sites in addition to “right-sizing” monuments Secretary Burgum has openly talked about his desire to close and transfer park units. During Congressional hearings throughout the year, Secretary Burgum has indicated that, unless a park unit is considered a “crown jewel” and is revenue generating, that it does not deserve protection. “Some of these things that are barely visited, in remote locations, that require all the overhead of federal government…Many of them which have no ability to charge admission, I mean so they are just cost centers, is what they are.” – Secretary Burgum Lee offering this amendment is just his most recent attempt to establish the framework to sell-off public lands. Talking points on the amendment: Vote NO on Lee Amendment #3972 to Interior Appropriations Don’t let congress sell off our national parks Parks come in all shapes and sizes, from Civil Rights history in Birmingham and the turning point of the Civil War at Vicksburg to waterfalls in Cuyahoga and the coast of Acadia, our communities love our national parks and do not want them sold off or transferred away. A national park site is our legacy and promise to the American people to preserve nature and history for generations to come. Removing these one-of-a-kind natural and historic places from National Park Service protection and on the eve of America’s 250th birthday would break that promise to the American people and threaten the park system we all know and love. 332 million people flock to our national parks, monuments, seashores, battlefields and historic sites to learn our priceless, national heritage from the American Revolution, Women’s Rights Movement to the Wright Brothers first flight. They tell stories of American presidents, inventors, civil rights leaders, and underground railroad conductors. Dismantling our national parks would devastate local economies that rely on tourist dollars. NPCA has identified the following Senators, both appropriators and potential park allies, as targets for outreach to kill this amendment: Tier 1 - Collins, Graham, Murkowski, McConnell, Boozman, Capito, Britt, Sheehy, Daines, McCormick, Tillis, Hyde-Smith Tier 2 - Justice, Banks, Budd, Young, Cotton, Moran, Hagerty, Mullin, Rounds These Senators need to hear from organizations in their state about how important public lands and cultural resources are. It will be critical to get calls into Senators telling them Vote NO on Lee Amendment #3972 to the Interior Appropriations bill. Photo credit: Effigy Mounds National Monument, National Park Service, Harper's Ferry, Iowa
The Harrison Goodall Preservation Fellowship application will open in January 2026. This fellowship is a one-year opportunity to pursue preservation leadership development in which fellows receive a $10,000 award to support their innovative project. 🧱 🔨 Learn more at historictrades.org/goodall
