DES MOINES – Known for its iconic Prairie School architecture, it’s easy to see why Sioux City, Iowa, has been twice named an All-America City by the National Civic League.
Iowans involved in historic preservation will get a close-up look at the Woodbury County Courthouse and other examples of Prairie School architecture when they gather June 1-3 in Sioux City for the 2023 Preserve Iowa Summit, the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs’ premier statewide conference for historic preservation.
“The rich and colorful history of Sioux City is filled with stories about frontier exploration, riverboats and railroads, so this year’s summit will be a real treat for Iowans,” Deputy State Historic Preservation Office Heather Gibb said. “We strongly encourage Iowans and others to join us as we step into the past and present-day Sioux City.”
Built on the theme “Sioux City Making Tracks,” the summit is designed for historic property owners, historic preservation commission members, Main Street staff and board members, developers and planners, government officials, community leaders, architects and students with three days of workshops, presentations and an awards ceremony.
The three-day program starts Thursday, June 1, with inspiration – an awards ceremony to honor the Preservation Projects of Merit, Excellence in Historic Preservation & Archaeology awards, and Preservation Iowa’s “Preservation At Its Best'' – and includes tours of the Sioux City Railroad Museum, the Fourth Street Historic District and the Woodbury County Courthouse, a National Landmark. It wraps up Saturday, June 3, with a round of how-to sessions specially designed for Iowans who work or volunteer at local historical societies and history museums across the state.
The newly renovated Warrior Hotel will host the summit meetings, reception and overnight stay for attendees. Built in 1930 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985, the Warrior Hotel in downtown Sioux City underwent a major renovation and reopened in 2020 in all its Art Deco splendor. The new owners took care to preserve many of the building's original features to celebrate the city's past and attract a new generation of visitors. Watch the video.
The summit is a coordinated effort of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs’ State Historic Preservation Office, the city of Sioux City and the Sioux City Historic Preservation Commission. It is funded in part with federal funds from the National Park Service, U. S. Department of the Interior. If you have any questions, please email historic.preservation@iowa.gov
Preserve Iowa Summit
When: June 1-3
Where: The Warrior Hotel, 525 6th St., Sioux City
(The Warrior Hotel is nominated to the National Register of Historic Places.)
Registration, hotel booking and more information
Registration: $200
$100 Discounted registration for Local History Network members, Certified Local Governments and Preservation Iowa members for the entire event (promo code needed).
Free Saturday admission for Local History Network members, Certified Local Governments and Preservation Iowa members. Registration is required.
The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs and its divisions – the State Historical Society of Iowa, including the State Historic Preservation Office; the Iowa Arts Council; the Iowa Humanities Council; and Produce Iowa-State Office of Film & Media – empower Iowans to build and sustain culturally vibrant communities by connecting to the people, places and points of pride that define our state.