Honors and Awards

The Rock Island Preservation Commission has garnered many different awards and honors over the years. Due in large part to exemplary efforts of the Commission, Rock Island is widely regarded as one of the most progressively preservation-minded cities in the state.

Honored achievements of the Rock Island Preservation Commission, individual members and staff:

2010 Illinois State Historical Society Award of Superior Achievement

The ISHS presented its highest recognition in honor of the Rock Island Preservation Commission’s 100 Most Significant Unprotected Structures Project for its effort to preserve and disseminate local history.

2009 River Action Eddy Award for Revitalization: City of Rock Island for Centennial Bridge Visitor Center

River Action, Inc. applauded the City of Rock Island for converting a tiny art deco landmark building into a Visitors Center near the Centennial Bridge. This task was accomplished by securing a Preserve America grant, which would not have been possible without the leadership in heritage tourism exemplified by the Preservation Commission.

2008 Rock Island Preservation Society Advocacy Award: Alan Carmen

Planning & Redevelopment Administrator Alan Carmen was recognized for his many years of advocacy and leadership for historic preservation in Rock Island, starting with his work in drafting the Rock Island Preservation Ordinance in 1984.

2005 3CMA Award of Excellence

Rock Island won the prestigious 3CMA Award of Excellence for the historic preservation video “Old Friends Are Worth Keeping.” The Savvy Awards competition is sponsored by the City-County Communications and Marketing Association (3CMA) and is held in cooperation with the National League of Cities.

2004 Preserve America Community Award

Rock Island was named the first Preserve America community in Illinois on March 18, 2004.

2004 Rock Island Preservation Society Historic Preservation Award

The Rock Island Preservation Society honored the Preservation Commission for “Stroll These Sidewalks,” a glossy, color-illustrated walking tour guide highlighting many of the historic neighborhoods within the city of Rock Island.

2004 Iowa Historic Preservation Alliance “Preservation At Its Best Award – Special Project”

Several Illinois and Iowa Quad Cities organizations (including the Rock Island Preservation Commission) joined together to produce “Historic Quad Cities: A Guide to Historic Neighborhoods, Commercial Districts, Homes, Structures and Sites.” This was the first joint driving tour booklet produced in the Quad Cities through the leadership of the Quad Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau.

2003 Hospitality of the Year Award

The Rock Island Preservation Commission received a Hospitality of the Year Award for their excellent service in tourism and support of the Quad Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau. The Commission was recognized for its fervor to build awareness of Rock Island’s diverse historic neighborhoods through a variety of media and methods.

2002 Rock Island Preservation Society Historic Preservation Award

The Rock Island Preservation Society honored the Preservation Commission for its production of “Historical Highlights of Augustana College - A Walking Tour.” The Commission partnered with Augustana College to produce this brochure.

2002 Rock Island Preservation Society Historic Preservation Award - Certificate of Recognition: Jill Doak

The Rock Island Preservation Society recognized the grant-writing skills of Jill Doak, Urban Planner II, who serves as staff support for the Preservation Commission.

2002 IAHPC Local Preservation Award – Commission

The Rock Island Preservation Commission won the annual Illinois Association of Historic Preservation Commissions award. The commission was recognized for its many innovative and successful programs over the years, its ability to maintain a balanced program with one of the strongest ordinances in the State, and for leadership in historic preservation in the community and across Illinois.

2001 IAHPC Local Preservation Award – Individual: Suzanne Curry (1929-2003)

The Illinois Association of Historic Preservation Commissions recognized Mrs. Suzanne Curry for her dedication to the highest principles of historic preservation, which at the heart is saving buildings for future generations. As the long-standing chairperson of the Rock Island Preservation Society’s Landmarks Committee, Mrs. Curry authored 15 Rock Island Landmark nominations.

1997 Rock Island Preservation Society Historic Preservation Award: Jill Doak

The Rock Island Preservation Society honored Ms. Doak's wealth of knowledge and her application of that knowledge to benefit both the city of Rock Island and its citizens.

1996 Festival of Trees Best of Show

A Christmas tree bearing over 200 hand-made, historic house ornaments won Best of Show in the Historic / Patriotic Tree Category at the annual Festival of Trees event. Local benefactors Stuart and Mary Thoms purchased the tree at the charity auction and donated it to the Rock Island Public Library, where it is reassembled each year.

1996 IAHPC Local Preservation Award – Individual: Diane Oestreich

Dedicated preservationist Diane Oestreich was acknowledged with the highest individual award offered by the Illinois Association of Historic Preservation Commissions for her multi-faceted efforts to create a preservation movement in Rock Island, including non-profit advocacy, neighborhood efforts, education and ordinance development.

1995 Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Award

“Chippiannock Cemetery: Epitaphs Brought to Life” received the Public Education award for its interesting and innovative method to bring people to this 1855 rural landscape cemetery. Since 1994, this event has been offered several times. Community theater actors portray important and interesting people who had lived in Rock Island. Several thousand people have enjoyed this classic event, co-sponsored by the Chippiannock Cemetery Heritage Foundation.

1995 IAHPC Local Preservation Award – Individual: Jill Doak

1995 City Employee of the Year: Jill Doak
The Illinois Association of Historic Preservation Commissions and the City of Rock Island honored city planner Jill Doak for her innovative work connecting neighborhoods and historic preservation. She was instrumental in the creation and adoption of the groundbreaking Broadway Neighborhood Conservation Plan.

1993 Illinois Preservation Award – Honorable Mention

The Rock Island Preservation Commission received an honorable mention for sponsoring a one-day workshop titled “Historic Landscaping for the Urban Lot.” This workshop brought together three respected speakers in the field of historic landscapes and then offered the opportunity for workshop participants to design a residential landscape using the principals learned. More than 100 people from across Illinois and Iowa attended the workshop.

The Rock Island Preservation Society, a non-profit advocacy group, sponsors the Annual Historic Preservation Awards in Rock Island. Awards and certificates are presented to individuals, groups or businesses who have made special efforts to preserve or restore historic structures in Rock Island or whose actions have served to support historic preservation. Projects honored must have been completed by the end of the previous calendar year.