BYRON – The American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) has announced that the Byron Forest Preserve District is the recipient of an Award of Merit for the Jarrett Prairie Center Museum Renovation Project.
The AASLH Leadership in History Awards, now in its 72nd year, is the most prestigious recognition for achievement in the preservation and interpretation of state and local history.
In fall 2016, the Jarrett Prairie Center Museum opened its totally renovated 4,000 square foot museum with new permanent exhibits that focused on interpreting the relationship of people with the surrounding prairie. The new exhibits tell the story of northern Illinois’ vanishing local heritage resource … the tallgrass prairie ecosystem … and the complexity of people’s interactions with it in the past, present and future. Corporate sponsors were Byron Bank, Prairie Forge Group and OSF St. Anthony Medical Center.
This year, AASLH is proud to confer 48 national awards honoring people, projects, exhibits, and publications. The winners represent the best in the field and provide leadership for the future of state and local history. Presentation of the awards will be made at a special banquet during the 2017 AASLH Annual Meeting in Austin, Texas, on Friday, Sept. 8. The banquet is supported by a generous contribution from the History Channel.
The AASLH awards program was initiated in 1945 to establish and encourage standards of excellence in the collection, preservation, and interpretation of state and local history throughout the United States. The AASLH Leadership in History Awards not only honor significant achievement in the field of state and local history, but also bring public recognition of the opportunities for small and large organizations, institutions, and programs to make contributions in this arena. For more information
about the Leadership in History Awards, contact AASLH at 615-320-3203, or go to www.aaslh.org.
The American Association for State and Local History is a not-for-profit professional organization of individuals and institutions working to preserve and promote history. From its headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee, AASLH provides leadership, service, and support for its members who preserve and interpret state and local history in order to make the past more meaningful in American society. AASLH publishes books, technical publications, a quarterly magazine, a monthly newsletter, and maintains numerous affinity groups and committees serving a broad range of constituents across the
historical community. The association also sponsors regional and national training workshops and an annual meeting.
