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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!

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

One of the great benefits of Preservation Iowa's professional memberships is listing in our Business Directory. This listing helps Iowa property owners find contractors and consultants who are the right fit for their project. Preservation Iowa's business directory includes architects, historians, masonry contractors, structural engineers, window contractors, and more who are ready to help you with your project. Check it out on our resources page at: https://preservationiowa.org/resources/directory/ If you are a preservation professional and would like to join our directory, check out our membership opportunities at www.preservationiowa.org

National History Day in Iowa is looking for volunteer judges at locations across the state. To serve as a judge you only need an interest in history--no expertise is required! History Day provides students with the opportunity to showcase their work and receive feedback on their projects from judges in their local communities across nine regional contests. This program is a lot of fun and will show you that despite what you hear, youth ARE in interested in history! To learn more about being a judge at a location near you, visit

http://history.iowa.gov

National History Day

Learn about National History Day Ⓡ in Iowa, a year-long academic enrichment…

Sharing this message from the National Trust for Historic Preservation: The National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) has opened the public comment period on the East Wing Modernization Project, including the proposed construction of a 90,000-square-foot ballroom addition to the White House complex. Written comments are due March 4, 2026 at Noon ET. The White House is a National Historic Landmark and National Park, owned by the American people and stewarded by the National Park Service. It has been home to our presidents since 1800 and is perhaps the most significant historic site in the United States. Before nationally significant places are permanently altered, the public deserves an opportunity to be heard and to help shape decisions that affect our shared national heritage. This is a legally required federal review process, and public participation is essential. Major construction projects in Washington, D.C. must be reviewed by the NCPC and the Commission of Fine Arts, comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and receive congressional approval. These safeguards exist to ensure transparency, accountability, and meaningful public input. Written comments are due March 4 at Noon ET. Commissioners need to hear directly from the public. Submit your comments here: https://www.ncpc.gov/participate/guidelines/

❤A little National Register of Historic Places humor for you all. Happy Valentine's Day to Iowa's preservationists! ❤