PRESERVATION AWARDS

For nearly forty years, the Metropolitan Historical Commission has recognized outstanding efforts to preserve Nashville’s historic architecture with its annual Preservation Awards program.

38th Annual Preservation Awards

Join the Metropolitan Historical Commission in celebrating National Preservation Month by honoring the 2013 winners of Nashville’s Preservation Awards. Awards will be presented to winners in the categories of Residential, Educational and Institutional, Infill, and Commercial architecture. The 38th annual event will be held on Wednesday, May 29, 2013 at 4:30 p.m. at the Nashville Public Library, 615 Church Street. Historic Nashville, Inc., and The Rymer Gallery will host a reception immediately following the ceremony.

The Metropolitan Historical Commission will also present the Achievement Award to Ann Tidwell for her leadership and dedication to the preservation of Nashville’s natural resources, including Radnor Lake. The Commission will honor Barry Walker and Marathon Village with the Commissioners’ Award for pioneering work to rehabilitate and promote the history of Nashville’s Marathon Motor Works. The Commission will present a special award for Leadership in History to George H. Cate, Jr., for his commitment to educating the public about the history of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County. 

The Preservation Awards program is held annually to celebrate National Preservation Month, which is observed nationally each year in May.  This year’s theme is “See! Save! Celebrate!” We can’t wait for you to see some amazing preservation projects and celebrate some of Nashville’s saved treasures. Sponsored annually by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the purpose of Preservation Month is to celebrate the country’s diverse and irreplaceable heritage. 

For more information, please call the Metropolitan Historical Commission at (615) 862-7970 or email scarlett.miles@nashville.gov.

HISTORY OF THE PRESERVATION AWARDS PROGRAM

The Metropolitan Historical Commission’s Preservation Awards program began in 1973 as an Architectural Awards program.  Miss Margaret Lindsley Warden, a charter member and former chair of the MHC, had the idea to create an incentive for people to preserve historic buildings. She had observed how successful prizes were in horse shows and had heard of similar awards programs for preservation of buildings in other cities.

In 1973, the purpose was stated as:

1) To stimulate interest in owners of pertinent buildings to preserve and restore them with authenticity, and
2) To spread information, i.e., to educate the community, on the merits (architectural and historical) and contemporary uses of distinguished buildings of the past.

The awards were originally aimed at residences, but the categories have increased as the need arose.  In 1973 the categories included dwellings, offices, and historic districts.  In 1997 those properties were expanded to six categories: residences (both single and multi-family structures), commercial buildings, religious properties, educational and institutional buildings, engineering and industrial structures, and infill construction.

Since 1973, nearly 350 awards have gone to a broad range of historic structures – dwellings, churches, commercial and industrial buildings, schools, even to bridges and new developments.  Nominated by the public, they are honored for their sensitivity to the original architecture and the surrounding environment, creativity in adaptation for contemporary use, architectural merit and/or historic interest, long-term maintenance, adherence to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation, and pioneering spirit.  The public awards ceremony coincides with National Preservation Month, which is celebrated every year in May. 

Today, in addition to recognizing various preservation projects, the Commission recognizes individuals and groups with the Achievement and Commissioners’ Awards.  The Achievement Award is given to an individual in recognition of his/her extraordinary leadership in preserving Nashville’s history -- either through research and writing history or through advocacy and raising public awareness of history and preservation.  The Commissioners' Award recognizes a group, program, or project that enhances Nashville’s history and historic resources.  It is designed to honor projects that do not fit within the traditional preservation award categories.  Achievement and Commissioners’ Awards are selected by the Historical Commission.

In the early years, the Commission held a separate event to recognize various individuals, groups, and projects that were involved in the preservation of the built environment and the promotion of our local history.  Eventually, the two awards programs were combined.  In recent years, the name of the new program changed to “Preservation Awards” to acknowledge the diversity of individuals, groups, and types of projects receiving awards. 

PARTICIPATION IN THE PRESERVATION AWARDS PROGRAM

Nomination forms are usually available in early February and are due in late March or early April, along with digital images of the nominated property.  To be considered, nominated properties must be located in Davidson County and, with the exception of the infill construction category, must have been built no later than 1960.  Buildings open to the public as historic sites are not eligible.  Previous winners MAY be eligible if the work is significantly different.

For more information about the Preservation Awards program and to request a nomination form, please call the Metropolitan Historical Commission at (615) 862-7970 or email scarlett.miles@nashville.gov.