HAVERHILL — A pair of old shoe factories and one organization’s efforts have put the city of Haverhill on the national preservation map.
Historic New England was among eight recipients of the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s 2026 National Preservation Awards. The organization, which opened its newest center in Haverhill earlier this year, received the Trustees’ Award for organizational excellence.
The awards were announced on Tuesday as more than 500 leaders in preservation gathered in Washington, D.C., for the first National Preservation Summit. Individuals, nonprofit organizations, public agencies and corporations are regularly recognized by the awards program for their preservation work and its effect on their communities.
For Historic New England, the award honors the group’s work across the region, including its collection of archived objects — the largest in the world related to New England history, with more than 1 million items.
“It is an honor to have Historic New England’s work and leadership recognized on a national level,” Historic New England Vice President and Chief Philanthropy Officer Paula Vogel said.
“The award acknowledges the organization as a whole, and reflects the breadth of its contributions to historic preservation across New England rather than a single historic property or program.”
The award adds visibility to Historic New England’s approach to preservation, and its “organizational excellence is reflected in both that approach and their stewardship, Vogel said.
“The organization stewards dozens of historic sites while also pursuing initiatives that demonstrate how preservation can contribute to contemporary community life, economic development, education, and cultural engagement,” she said.
The Haverhill Center, Vogel said, is a strong example.
Through the reuse of two historic shoe factory buildings, Historic New England is working to create a new cultural destination in downtown Haverhill while protecting the buildings as well as connecting people to the region’s history.
In June, a ribbon-cutting and celebration were held for the opening of the Haverhill center on Essex Street. The group launched with the unveiling of its inaugural exhibition, “Shoe Stories: Past, Present, Future.”
Established in 1910, Historic New England is the nation’s oldest and largest regional preservation organization, stewarding 38 diverse historic properties across five states. The properties range from farmsteads and urban residences to industrial complexes and designed landscapes.
The National Preservation Awards are the National Trust’s marquee honors for preservation, with the program’s birth more than six decades ago, when the Louise du Pont Crowinshield Award was established.
Sixty-six years later, the National Preservation Awards are presented annually in six distinct categories.
Within four months of the institution’s opening in Haverhill, the nonprofit delivered national recognition to the city.
Vogel added that the award is a result of Historic New England’s broader mission, with Haverhill demonstrating how historic buildings can be protected while being put to contemporary use.