Historic preservation is a conversation with our past about our future. It provides us with opportunities to ask, "What is important in our history?" and "What parts of our past can we preserve for the future?" Through historic preservation, we look at history in different ways, ask different questions of the past, and learn new things about our history and ourselves. Historic preservation is an important way for us to transmit our understanding of the past to future generations.

Historic preservation connects us to specific times, places and events that were significant milestones in our collective past.  The ability to revisit these preserved elements from time to time provides us with a sense of place and maintains continuity between our past and our present by preserving a trail of how we arrived at where, and who we are today. 

Historic preservation plays a role in encouraging civic pride, neighborhood identity, economic vitality, and community sustainability. Studies have shown that historic preservation stabilizes property values, contributes to quality of life, and encourages property investments by owners. This translates into economic development by creation of new jobs and retention of existing jobs, especially in the building trades, as well as stimulation of tourism and business growth.

HISTORIC PROPERTIES IN AMES

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES

LOCAL LANDMARKS AND HISTORIC DISTRICTS

AMES IS A CERTIFIED LOCAL GOVERNMENT (CLG)

 The Certified Local Government Program is a robust partnership between local, state, and federal governments to help communities save irreplaceable historic character. Through the certification process, local governments make a commitment to historic preservation by passing local legislation and establishing a historic preservation commission. The commission advises the local elected officials on matters related to historic preservation and undertakes special projects in the community.

As a Certified Local Government, Ames has made a commitment to preservation at the local level and by doing so, has become a critical component in the effort to preserve and increase awareness of Iowa's unique cultural heritage.

APPROVALS

CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS (COA)

HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION

OTHER

FINANCIAL INCENTIVES

RESOURCES

Ames Comprehensive Historic Preservation Plan

Municipal Code Chapter 31 - Historic Preservation

Historic Surveys in Ames

Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) Application

HPC Application Processing Schedule

Annual Historic Preservation Awards

Educational Videos

Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps

Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps were produced in the United States from 1867 to the 1950s. They became available for a large number of cities and were updated periodically for many decades. These maps are a very useful tool for local historians, demographers, city planners, genealogists, and anyone studying the history of urban area.

Maps included the size, shape, and construction materials of buildings, as well as street names and boundaries, property boundaries and how individual buildings were used at the time the map was produced. Sanborn Maps are often utilized as historical evidence of an architectural feature, such as a porch. 

1896 - 1900 - 1911 - 1920 - 1926 - 1947 - 1961

Note: The 1947 Sanborn Map is an "update" of the 1926 Map.

Ames City Maps

1875 - 1902 - 1916 - 1926 - 1930 

LINKS

Ames History Museum

State Historical Society of Iowa

Preservation Iowa - Facebook

National Park Service- National Register of Historic Places