Many thanks to the 200 friends who joined us last week for our 2025 Annual Meeting and Preservation Awards ceremony. It was a lively and memorable evening! The Annapolis Town Crier opened the program with a hearty “Oyez!”, followed by more than 30 adorable “young, scrappy, and hungry” singers from the West Annapolis Elementary School choir performing one of their favorite songs from Hamilton. Their performance was a wonderful reminder of how music connects us to history—and a perfect showcase of our growing partnership with Anne Arundel County Public Schools.
We also presented Preservation Awards to four Annapolis champions – Dick Hillman, Jane McWilliams, Nannetta Hall, and John Pantiledes, and celebrated an exemplary capital project – the restoration of the Old Treasury Building on the State House grounds. More on the awardees can be found here. We are grateful for the contributions of these four individuals and the Department of General Services for their incredible work as community leaders and stewards of our built heritage and intangible culture.
A program highlight was the keynote presentation by Donovan Rypkema, a leading expert on the economics of historic preservation. Don drew upon best practices across the nation to argue that “historic preservation is the one strategy that is simultaneously the exercise of economic, environmental, and social responsibility.” I was particularly struck by what he calls the “heritage halo effect” – the reflected glory (and economic advantage) that comes simply from being associated with, or in close proximity to, the historic district.
I was proud of the great turnout from our elected officials and State partners who value the work that we are doing. We’re particularly hopeful about future opportunities to work cooperatively with the incoming Annapolis city administration—especially on the City Dock project—to ensure that sight lines, height restrictions, and the city’s historic integrity remain protected.
Here’s a link to the event recording—grab a cuppa or a cocktail and enjoy! The program moves quickly and is a fun watch.
Or, if you only have a few minutes, check out our year end impact video, a reflection on the many “Beautiful People, Beautiful Places” that make Annapolis special.
We invite you to make Historic Annapolis part of your holiday traditions. The Paca House is beautifully decorated for the season, and our Colonial Yuletide Celebration on December 6 promises to be a festive memory. We also hope you’ll also explore the Museum of Historic Annapolis this month, open through the winter, where you can immerse yourself in the many stories, voices, and objects that reflect our vibrant community.
Protecting and sharing the places, stories, and objects of Annapolis is at the heart of our work. There is something deeply meaningful about a community that treats its rich heritage as sacred—where preservation is valued and our unique American stories are celebrated as part of our national fabric. And on the eve of our nation’s milestone birthday, we are reminded that our cultural identity can ground us in a rapidly changing world. Coming together with our friends, members, partners, and supporters last week highlights what we all believe: heritage matters.
On behalf of all my colleagues here at Historic Annapolis and our Board of Trustees, please allow me to express our deep gratitude for supporting our work and for being a part of the preservation community. Without you, our work would not be possible.
Have a blessed holiday season!
