Historic New England, which recently opened its Haverhill Center downtown, Tuesday night was one of eight institutions nationwide honored by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Historic New England, owner of the historic Burgess and Lang buildings at 143 and 151 Essex St., in Haverhill, was awarded the Trustees’ Award for Organizational Excellence, calling the organization, a “national model for how preservation organizations can lead in the 21st century.”
“These trailblazing individuals and exemplary projects show us all how historic preservation can revitalize communities, enhance economic opportunities, and protect our nation’s cultural vitality,” said Brent Leggs, president and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Historic New England is described as the nation’s oldest and largest regional preservation organization, stewarding 38 diverse historic properties across five states—from rural farmsteads and urban residences to industrial complexes and designed landscapes—while maintaining one of the country’s most significant collections of material culture and historic archives.
Established in 1910, the National Trust for Historic Preservation noted, “Historic New England has advanced preservation through rigorous stewardship, civic engagement, financial integrity, inclusive leadership and innovative programming. For more than a century, Historic New England has safeguarded the architecture and stories of New England. Today, it stands as a national model for how preservation organizations can lead in the 21st century.”
The award was presented during the first National Preservation Summit at the Washington National Cathedral that brought together more than 500 preservation leaders. The annual awards program—the industry’s highest honor— recognizes distinguished individuals, nonprofit organizations, public agencies and corporations that enrich and honor their communities through dynamic preservation practices.