Sixty Years of Preservation: Celebration, Recognition, and a Season Ahead
- Mar 24
- 5 min read
Updated: Mar 26
April gives us a chance to pause, look back, and celebrate how far we have come together.
This month marks the official start of our 60th anniversary, and I keep coming back to what it takes to keep something going for sixty years. It’s more than an organization—it’s a promise. It’s the belief that the places where we live, work, gather, and remember are worth the effort, and that the work of caring for them is always ongoing.
Preservation Utah began in 1966 after people noticed what was happening to Utah’s historic places and chose to act. That same year, the National Historic Preservation Act set the stage for preservation work across the country. Both will turn sixty in 2026, right alongside the nation’s 250th birthday. It’s a year full of meaning—a good time to ask ourselves what we’ve built, what we’ve saved, and what still needs our care.
Lately, I’ve been thinking about the people who came before us. I recently spoke with Stephanie Churchill, Preservation Utah’s very first employee, who joined in 1971. Listening to her stories about those early days, the advocacy, the uncertainty, and the deep belief that it all mattered reminded me that this work has always depended on people who care. That spirit is still here, and if anything, it’s only grown stronger. Learn more about our 60th Anniversary.
As part of that recommitment, we are actively seeking board members in Washington and Iron County. Expanding our board presence in southern Utah reflects our commitment to statewide advocacy and ensures that preservation voices from across the state are represented in our work. If you are based in Washington or Iron County and care about historic places, I would love to talk with you. Please reach out to director@preservationutah.org to learn more about board service or to submit your interest.
April also brings one of my favorite days: the Community Stewardship Awards ceremony on April 28 at Memorial House. This year’s recipients show just how many ways preservation happens in Utah through adaptive reuse, neighborhood revitalization, legacy businesses, individual care, organizational leadership, and the kind of restoration work that gives buildings a second chance. I’m proud to celebrate each of them.
And just ahead is Preservation Month, with the Spring Historic Homes Tour on May 16 and a whole season of events still to come.
Sixty years in, and the work keeps going. I’m grateful you’re here with us.
Brandy
Executive Director
April 2026 Stewardship Report
Preservation Utah at 60
In 1966, a group of Utahns who cared about the built environment founded what would become Preservation Utah. They were responding to a moment of rapid change, urban renewal, demolition, and development that was reshaping cities across the country, often at the expense of the historic fabric that gave communities their character and continuity.
Sixty years later, the challenges may look different, but our mission is the same. Preservation Utah is still the only statewide nonprofit dedicated to historic preservation, working together through advocacy, education, and partnership to protect, restore, and celebrate Utah’s historic places.
This anniversary is a chance to look back at what we’ve accomplished, to honor the people and places at the heart of our story, and to recommit to the work ahead. Historic places aren’t just relics; they’re living parts of our communities, offering homes, economic strength, sustainability, and a sense of who we are. The case for preservation is as strong as ever, and the need for all of us to work together has never been clearer.
2026 also marks 60 years since the passage of the National Historic Preservation Act, the landmark federal legislation that established State Historic Preservation Offices, the National Register of Historic Places, and the review processes that continue to shape preservation nationwide. And it falls in the year of the nation's 250th anniversary, a moment that asks us to consider which stories we tell, which places we protect, and what we want to carry forward.
All year long, we’ll be celebrating the people, places, and partnerships that have shaped sixty years of preservation in Utah. I hope you’ll join us.
Celebrating the 2026 Community Stewardship Award Recipients
Every spring, the Community Stewardship Awards give us a chance to recognize preservation happening all over Utah—in neighborhoods, on main streets, and in the hands of people who decided a building was worth the effort. This year’s honorees show just how wide that work can be. From a landmark adaptive-reuse project to a century-old business, from a rural community group to the careful restoration of a single home, each one has added something lasting to Utah’s preservation story.
The 2026 Community Stewardship Award recipients are:
Adaptive Reuse: Arbor 515 (Wilde Wood Tower)
Community Revitalization: The Milk Block
Research Industry Expert: Korral Broschinsky
Legacy Business: Roosters Hospitality Group
Organization: Friends of Historic Spring City
Stewardship: Susan Dolemba, Nebeker-Kearl House
Rehabilitation and Restoration: Browning Apartments, Silver King Coalition Mine Building, University of Utah Buildings 661-663, and 951 E South Temple Street
The awards ceremony will be held on April 28 at Memorial House in Memory Grove Park. We’re grateful to everyone who took the time to nominate these projects and people, and to the jury whose thoughtful review made this celebration possible.
Most Endangered Places: Nominations Update
Nominations for the 2026 Utah Most Endangered Places list have closed, following a call for entries that highlighted historic buildings, neighborhoods, and cultural landscapes facing real threats across the state. The Most Endangered list is one of our most visible advocacy tools, highlighting places at risk, raising public awareness, and supporting communities working for solutions.
We’ll announce the 2026 list in the coming weeks. Thank you to everyone who submitted a nomination, and to all the communities who keep speaking up for the places that matter.
Preservation Month is Coming
May is National Preservation Month, and this year it lands right in the heart of our 60th anniversary. It’s an especially meaningful time to celebrate historic places and the people who care for them.
We have a full month of programming planned, and we’ll share more details as May gets closer. The highlight this year is the Spring Historic Homes Tour on May 16, along South Temple—one of Salt Lake City’s most architecturally significant streets. This tour is a rare chance to step inside some of these homes, hear their stories, and see up close what thoughtful stewardship can do.
Looking Ahead
The rest of 2026 is shaping up to be full of good things. This summer, we’ll host Rhythms in the Park on August 2 at Memorial House and Memory Grove Park, a new outdoor music event that brings back the spirit of Jazz in the Park and celebrates our anniversary with community, music, and one of Salt Lake City’s most beloved historic places. More details and sponsorship opportunities are on our website.
In October, our Fall Historic Homes Tour will take place in Poplar Grove on October 17, shining a light on the west side’s history and the preservation stories happening there.
All year long, we’ll keep adding resources to the Advocacy Resource Hub, send out Advocacy Alerts when your voice is needed, and work to make sure historic places across Utah are thoughtfully considered as our communities grow and change.
Sixty years is a milestone worth celebrating, but it’s also a reminder that this work is never finished. It depends on people who show up, and the places we protect today are the ones future generations will call their own. We’re grateful for everyone who has been part of this story, and for those just joining in.
If you’re not a member yet, this is a great year to join us. Our new membership program has options for individuals and businesses, so more people can connect with this work—whether you’re just getting started or have been part of the preservation community for years. Members get early access to events, discounts on tours and programs, and the satisfaction of knowing your support helps protect Utah’s historic places. You can explore membership options at https://www.preservationutah.org/membership
