A Month Worth Stepping Into
- Apr 29
- 5 min read
There is something that stays with you after a morning like April 28.
We've hosted the Community Stewardship Awards for many years, and Memorial House has seen plenty of meaningful gatherings. But this morning stood out. For the first time, we invited past recipients of the Lucybeth Rampton Lifetime Achievement Award to join us, and those who could attend brought decades of preservation history into the room. Having them together, in the building that has anchored this work for so long, was a feeling I hadn't expected. Legacy feels abstract until you see it in person.
The rest of the morning was just as special. Ten new awardees proved that this work is happening everywhere. It always comes down to people deciding a place is worth the effort. That spirit of caring enough to take action has carried our organization from its founding in 1966 to today, and it connects every one of these awardees with those who came before them.
April 28 also kicked off Preservation Month, and May is already proving to be special. The Spring Historic Homes Tour on South Temple is coming up on May 16, and I hope you’ll join us. This street is where much of Utah’s preservation story began, and visiting it during our 60th anniversary feels especially fitting.
Besides the tour, May offers many chances to support historic places in neighborhoods, parks, and buildings throughout the region. Each event is an opportunity to get involved, not just watch from the sidelines.
I also want to share something I'm genuinely excited about. We are hiring a Director of Preservation, a new senior position and the first of its kind for our organization. For sixty years, Preservation Utah has relied on a small, dedicated team. Creating this role shows our commitment to growing our capacity to meet the needs of Utah’s historic places. If you know someone who would be a great fit, please let me know. You can find all the details at preservationutah.org/jobs/director-of-preservation.
One more update: we've upgraded our membership platform to make it easier for you to access member discounts when signing up for events, including the South Temple tour. If you’re a current member, please create an account on our website using the email address where you receive our emails. Your membership has already been transferred, so creating an account simply connects everything and ensures your discounts apply automatically at checkout.
Brandy Strand
Executive Director Sixty years in, and the season is full. I'm grateful you're part of it.
May 2026 Stewardship Report
Preservation Month: 60 Years In, and Still Going
Every May, preservationists across the country take time to celebrate what this work is really about: the buildings, neighborhoods, and landscapes that anchor communities and keep memories alive. This year, Preservation Month falls right in the middle of Preservation Utah’s 60th anniversary!
Sixty years ago, a group of Utahns looked at what was happening to the built environment around them and decided it was worth their time to act. That impulse to pay attention, to show up, to insist that place matters is what Preservation Month is really about.
Celebrating the 2026 Community Stewardship Award Recipients
On the morning of April 28, Preservation Utah presented its 2026 Community Stewardship Awards at Memorial House, honoring 10 individuals, organizations, businesses, and project teams whose work reflects the full breadth of historic preservation in Utah today.
This year's recipients:
Legacy Business — Roosters Hospitality Group, Ogden
Heritage Organization — Friends of Historic Spring City, Spring City
Research Industry Expert — Korral Broschinsky, Statewide
Stewardship — Susan Dolemba / Nebeker-Kearl House, Laketown
Community Revitalization — The Milk Block, Salt Lake City
Adaptive Reuse — Arbor 515 (Wilde Wood Tower), Salt Lake City
Rehabilitation and Restoration — Bernard O. Mecklenburg Residence, Salt Lake City
Rehabilitation and Restoration — Browning Apartments, Ogden
Rehabilitation and Restoration — University of Utah Fort Douglas Buildings 661, 662 & 663, Salt Lake City
Rehabilitation and Restoration — Silver King Coalition Mine Headframe Building, Park City
The morning was also the first time Preservation Utah invited past recipients of the Lucybeth Rampton Lifetime Achievement Award, an honor established in 1968, to gather with the new class of awardees. Not everyone could attend, but those who did brought decades of preservation history with them. Inside Memorial House, it felt like the perfect setting for this gathering.
Thank you to our Cornerstone sponsors Method Studio and Paulsen Construction, and our Buttress sponsors Giv Communities, Park City Museum, and Friends of Historic Spring City. Full profiles of each awardee are available at preservationutah.org/community-stewardship-awards.
Spring Historic Homes Tour: South Temple, May 16
The highlight of Preservation Month is the 55th Spring Historic Homes Tour, taking place along South Temple on May 16 at 10 am. Tickets are $30, and registration is open.
South Temple is where Utah’s preservation story began. In our 60th anniversary year, returning to this corridor feels like coming home. The tour gives you a rare chance to step inside some of these homes, hear their histories, and see what careful, long-term stewardship looks like up close.
The companion South Temple History Lecture takes place on May 2 at 12:30 pm at the Clubhouse on South Temple, free with an RSVP.
A Note for Members: New Platform, Easier Discounts
We recently upgraded our membership platform to make it easier for you to access your member benefits. If you’re a current member, please create an account on our website using the email address you use to receive Preservation Utah emails. This will link your membership and allow you to access discounts when signing up for events, including the South Temple Historic Homes Tour.
Your membership has already been transferred with your current settings and expiration date. Creating an account simply activates your benefits at checkout. It takes less than two minutes at preservationutah.org.
Not a member yet? This is a great year to join. Your membership supports preservation advocacy, education, and programs across Utah, and you’ll also get year-round discounts on tours and events.
Fisher Mansion First Phase Celebration, May 6
Join us on May 6 from 6 to 8 pm at Fisher Brewing (320 W 800 S) to celebrate the completion of the first phase of stabilization at the Fisher Mansion. Friends of Fisher Mansion, Fisher Brewing, Salt Lake City, Preservation Utah, and Wadsworth Brothers Construction will all be there. Industry and preservation experts will discuss the work done and answer questions about what’s next. The event is free, with food and beer available for purchase. You must be 21 or older with a valid ID.
Since 1997, the community has come together each spring to care for Memory Grove Park and honor its history. This year’s cleanup is on May 9 from 8 am to noon. We hope you’ll join us and continue this tradition of care.
Most Endangered Places: Coming Soon
Nominations for the 2026 Utah Most Endangered Places list have closed, and we will be announcing this year's list in the coming weeks. Sign up for Advocacy Alerts to be notified when the list is released and when your voice is needed.
We're Hiring: Director of Preservation
Preservation Utah is seeking a Director of Preservation, a senior program leadership role responsible for overseeing preservation programs, providing technical assistance, advancing policy initiatives, and working with communities across Utah to support historic resources. Full details are available on our website.
