The Louise du Pont Crowninshield Award is the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s highest national recognition. The award is made with the greatest care and only when there is indisputable evidence of superlative achievement over time in the preservation and interpretation of our cultural, architectural or maritime heritage, including buildings, architecture, districts, archeology, cultural landscapes, and objects of significance in the history and culture of the United States.

Factors that weigh heavily in consideration for the award include depth and breadth of achievement over time, volunteer commitment, significant national involvement in historic preservation, and recognition of achievement from other organizations. Both individuals and organizations are eligible.

To see a complete list of past Crowninshield Award winners, click here.

Key Dates for 2025

• October 28, 2024: Nominations open.
• January 10, 2025: Nomination deadline.
• June 2025: Nominators and award recipients notified. The nominator will be notified for those not selected.
• September 16-18, 2025: The award ceremony will take place at PastForward 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Eligibility

• The nominee must be an individual or organization who has made substantial contributions to the historic preservation field. Organizational awardees are very rare.
• Nominations submitted in previous years that were not selected to receive an award may be updated and resubmitted.
• Nominations may be made without the knowledge of the nominee, but nominees must be present at the award ceremony, either in person or virtually as agreed upon with the National Trust, to receive recognition.
• Posthumous nominations are not accepted.
• Self nominations are not accepted.
• National Trust for Historic Preservation Trustees, Advisors, and staff are not eligible to receive a National Preservation Award for individual achievement during the period of their active service and for three years thereafter.

Award Criteria

To be considered for the Louise du Pont Crowninshield Award, nominated individuals or organizations must demonstrate indisputable evidence of superlative achievement over time in the preservation and interpretation of our cultural, architectural or maritime heritage, including buildings, architecture, districts, archeology, cultural landscapes, and objects of significance in the history and culture of the United States.

The Louise du Pont Crowninshield Award nominees are judged on the following criteria:

• Depth and breadth of achievement over time
• Volunteer commitment
• Significant national involvement in historic preservation
• Recognition of achievement from other organizations

Award Benefits

The Louise du Pont Crowninshield Award recipient will receive a physical award.

Expectations

• Recipients must appear at the awards ceremony during the PastForward conference, as determined by the National Trust.
• Recipients are responsible for their own travel, lodging, and registration fees to PastForward
• Recipients will be available to provide quotes and background information for press releases and other media surrounding the award and the award presentation
• Recipients may be asked to give brief remarks during the awards ceremony
• Recipients may be asked to write a story for the National Trust website and/or contribute to a National Trust publication.
• Recipients may be asked to serve as panel members for educational sessions at PastForward
• Recipients will be asked to publicize their award through their social media channels, if applicable.

Nomination Process and Procedures

Nominators must complete one nomination form (requirements listed below) and submit it by the deadline in order for the nominee to be considered. All nominations must be submitted using our online form in Submittable. Paper or email submissions will not be accepted.

Nominations must conform to the procedures outlined on this page to be considered for an award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation. A link to the nomination form can be found at the bottom of this page. Please be sure to read all guidelines and eligibility information before starting your nomination.

Nomination Requirements

Please include in your nomination form:

• A concise narrative (7,500 characters or less including spaces) that describes the individual’s preservation achievements and addresses the award’s specific criteria (listed above)
• Up to 5 brochures or news clippings
• Up to 3 letters of recommendation
• Up to 10 photos. We strongly recommend including a headshot of the nominee and photos demonstrating their preservation work.
• Up to 2 video files related to the nominee's work. Examples: footage of preservation projects, community testimonials, news cuts, etc.

Nomination Form

Click here to access the National Preservation Awards submission form. To begin your nomination, you will need to sign up for a Submittable account or sign in to an existing Submittable account if applicable. Once you have signed into Submittable, the submission form will become available. Answer the first question according to which award category you are submitting a nomination for. If you wish to be considered for multiple categories, you will need to submit multiple nominations. Once you begin your nomination, you will be able to save your progress and return to the site to continue working on the form by clicking "Save Draft" at the bottom of the page.

If you have any questions, please contact us at awards@savingplaces.org.