Nominate an Endangered Property

The Most Endangered Properties program was established in 1995 to raise awareness about the special buildings, sites, and structures across Iowa that are slowly and quietly slipping away. Over the past 30 years, Preservation Iowa has recognized more than 200 endangered archaeological sites, commercial buildings, homes, churches, landscapes, and other historic resources in 69 counties—demonstrating both the breadth of Iowa’s heritage and the ongoing threats it faces.

The program serves as an invaluable tool for generating media attention and connecting endangered property owners with preservation advocates and technical resources that can support the protection and rehabilitation of their historic places. In many cases, local interest groups have also used the designation to leverage financial support, encourage partnerships, and catalyze community-driven efforts to restore and preserve threatened properties.

If you know of an important building, site, or structure that is threatened or otherwise at risk for loss, Preservation Iowa encourages you to nominate it for the annual Most Endangered Properties list.  Each nomination is carefully reviewed by a panel of judges, who evaluate submissions based on four key criteria:

  • Historic significance of the building, site, or structure
  • Current condition and historic integrity
  • Urgency and nature of the threat
  • Feasible solutions that could help eliminate or reduce the threat

By submitting a nomination, you help bring attention, resources, and potential partners to the places that need it most.

Submit a Nomination!

To submit a nomination to the Most Endangered Properties program, please email the completed Nomination Form, along with digital images and any other relevant support materials, to info@preservationiowa.org.  Please use “Most Endangered Properties Nomination” in the email subject line.  Images may also be sent using a file transfer service, such as Google Drive or Dropbox. If using Google Drive, ensure that permissions are set to allow anyone with the link to download prior to sending.

Nomination Packet Must Include:

  • Completed Most Endangered Nomination Fillable Form – be sure to complete all parts of the form.
  • At least two (2) and no more than four (4) high-resolution (minimum 300 dpi, 2MB in size) images. Ideally, one image preceding threat or a historic image and one current image. Please include photo credits.

There is NO nomination fee

Submissions are accepted annually throughout the fall, with a deadline in early December each year.  Late submissions are accepted into early January based on the number of nominations and distribution throughout the state. 

Please see our Facebook page for recent announcements about nominations, deadlines, and listed properties.

For additional information, please contact Preservation Iowa.

Submission to Most Endangered Properties provides Preservation Iowa with permission to use materials in organization’s promotional materials.