LITTLE ROCK—Preserve Arkansas, the statewide nonprofit advocate for historic preservation, will host the Arkansas Preservation Awards on January 30, 2026, at the Still Ballroom in the Robinson Center, 426 W. Markham Street in Little Rock. The evening will begin with a reception at 5:45 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:30, and the presentation of awards at 7:15. 

Named for Preserve Arkansas’s founding president and pioneer preservationist, the Parker Westbrook Award for Lifetime Achievement will be awarded to Elizabeth and the late Wendel Norton of Mount Judea. For the past 30 years, the Nortons have contributed to the preservation of Arkansas’s historic landscape, professionally through their business, Norton Arts Fine Art Conservation, and personally through the restoration and stewardship of the May Farmstead in Newton County. Elizabeth and Wendel completed restoration projects in many of Arkansas’s notable historic places, including the Arkansas State Capitol, Historic Washington State Park, Powhatan Courthouse, Jackson County Courthouse, Methodist churches at Hot Springs and Rogers, and Van Buren’s Fairview Cemetery. From conserving works of art and architecture to educating people about conservation, their work combined technical excellence with deep personal commitment. Their legacy of preservation, education, and service makes them richly deserving of the Parker Westbrook Award. 

The following is a complete list of honorees: 

Parker Westbrook Award for Lifetime Achievement:  Elizabeth and the late Wendel Norton, Mount Judea

Ned Shank Award for Outstanding Preservation Publication Hot Springs Heritage and Historic Preservation Plan, Published by the City of Hot Springs and MKSK, 

2025 Outstanding Achievement in Preservation Education Independent Project Based Learning Historic Preservation Course, City of Russellville in partnership with Arkansas Tech University

Outstanding Service in Neighborhood Preservation City of Little Rock, MacArthur Park Historic District Design Guidelines 

Excellence in Preservation through Restoration Award: John and Alice Edmiston House, 14065 College Rd., Cane Hill Award: UA Rich Mountain Waldron Rock Buildings, Corner of 5 th and Cedar, Waldron 

Excellence in Preservation through Rehabilitation Award: Bob R. Brooks, Jr. Justice Building, 101 W. Capitol Ave., Little Rock | The Eagle Bourbon and Wine Lounge, 116 E. Broad St., Texarkana | The Flats at SoMa, 231 E. 25th St., Little Rock Honorable Mention: Rathskeller 300, 300 W. Dickson St., Fayetteville 

Outstanding Achievement in Adaptive Reuse The Handlebar – A Spoke Easy, 115 N. Commerce Ave., Russellville

Outstanding New Construction in a Historic Setting George Dodson Residential Infill Project at 220 E. Broad St., Texarkana 

Outstanding Achievement in Preservation Advocacy Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin, Little Rock 

Outstanding Work by a Craftsperson Kendal Hern, BMR Builders, Knoxville 

W. L. Cook Award for Excellence in Heritage Preservation Jerred Price, Leachville Beautification Commission 

Please join us on January 30 to celebrate the accomplishments of Elizabeth and Wendel Norton and all honorees! Tickets and sponsorships are available at PreserveArkansas.org. For more information, please contact Rachel Patton at 501-372-4757 or rpatton@preservearkansas.org.