Preservation Austin promotes our city's diverse cultural heritage through the preservation of historic places. The nonprofit has been Austin’s leading voice for preservation since 1953, with educational programming and advocacy that engage the community in "saving the good stuff."
Annual programs celebrating Austin's unique cultural and architectural heritage include the Historic Homes Tour and Preservation Merit Awards, with diverse educational events throughout the year. Supported by a passionate board of directors, staff, and hundreds of volunteers, they seek to broaden their message by engaging new constituents throughout the community. Preservation Austin advocates for improved preservation policies and outcomes to make sure that, as it grows, Austin remains the city that we know and love.
Volunteer for committees and or our various events throughout the year. There are several committees, including the Education Committee that does outreach and educational programs; the Preservation Committee that works on preservation public policy, including working with City Council members, neighborhoods, and owners of historic properties; the Development Committee that helps raise money, and the Grant Committee that reviews grant applications and helps to decide who receives grants.
Preservation Austin has two signature events and several smaller events. The Homes Tour is held every spring in April, and showcases a different historic vintage neighborhood each year. The event includes six to eight houses for people to tour, with around 130 volunteers acting as docents at the houses. The homes have all been rehabilitated and show how historic/vintage homes can work for modern families.
The Preservation Merit Awards Luncheon is in the fall and honors projects that celebrate the hard work and visionary approaches of those preserving Austin’s unique architectural, cultural, and environmental heritage. This is a juried award program; the jury consists of experts in preservation, architecture, and community development.
The Children's History Hunt is an architectural scavenger hunt for children with games and prizes that takes place in a different neighborhood every year. There is also a summer program for property owners called Greening Your Vintage Home, which covers a variety of subjects including window repair, ADU's, landscaping for historic homes, energy efficiency, and other relevant subjects.
Membership levels range from $25 for full-time students, $50 for an individual, $75 for a household, $100 for Partner, and on up. There are also levels for business members at $250 and $500.
