Heritage Ohio’s 2025 Preservation Month Photo Contest | Where Life Happens
Heritage Ohio’s annual Preservation Month Photo Contest returns this May with a new theme: Where Life Happens.
This year, we focus on how buildings and architectural details carry life forward—through use, memory, and presence. We welcome images of places that serve their communities now, have recently come back into use, or still wait for someone to step in. Each stage tells a different part of the preservation story.
The contest opens the first week of May and runs through the end of the month. Full entry details will be available at heritageohio.org and shared on our social media accounts: @heritageohio on Facebook and LinkedIn, and @ heritageohiomainstreet on Instagram. We’ll highlight select entries throughout the month and feature one winning image on the cover of the next issue of Revitalize Ohio.
Contribute a photo that helps document what preservation looks like in Ohio right now.
Dates to remember
Entries accepted: Thursday, May 1st – Saturday, May 31st
Winner announced: Friday, June 6th
Photo Submission Requirements
Image Quality: Ensure images are sharp, well-lit, and free of distractions. No collages.
Format: JPEG or PNG format.
Resolution and Size: At least 300 DPI with a minimum physical size of 1,000 PX x 1,000 PX.
Avoid Overly Edited or Manipulated Images: While minor adjustments are acceptable, avoid
excessive editing that could distort the image’s authenticity.
Copyright: No watermarks on photos.
2025 Preservation Month Photo Contest
Use this form to enter your image in our photo contest, and remember: one entry per person.
Heritage Ohio’s 2024 Preservation Month Photo Contest | Faces of Preservation: And the winner is…..
The votes have been tallied and it’s time to announce this year’s winner. Congratulations go out to Maria Dehne for her image Cincinnati Face Off!
Here is Maria’s statement about the image from her entry:
One of the many historic gems of Cincinnati, Ohio, is Cincinnati Union Terminal, a 91-year-old National Historic Landmark. Originally built as a passenger railroad terminal, and as a current treasured art deco city icon, it was recently restored back to its original 1933 condition. In a multi-‘face’ted process, one important aspect of the work included meticulously repairing the exterior ‘face’ of the building. Made of limestone, aluminum and other materials, preservationists made sure to use safe products and procedures to remove layers and years of grime to provide a ‘facelift’ to this cultural asset’s façade. At one time, the building was on the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s list of one of the Most Endangered Historic Places and ‘faced’ doom, but today it continues to hold significant meaning to the nation’s heritage, transportation, architecture, and more. As I reflect on what this preserved building means to me, it was neat to have the chance to capture a reflection of downtown Cincinnati in my car mirror as the restored ‘face’ of the building was in front of me. My face lights up every time I look at this photo where I was able to capture a symbolic ‘face off’ of a beloved and memorable building, and the city that loves and saved her, all in one image!
Be sure to catch the winning image on the cover of a future issue of Revitalize Ohio. Thank you to everyone who entered the contest and who voted for their favorite image.
Heritage Ohio’s 2024 Preservation Month Photo Contest | Vote for your favorite!
We’re in the thick of Preservation Month 2024 and it’s the moment we know you’ve been waiting for: time to vote for your favorite finalist image! But first we want to thank everyone who submitted an entry this year. Whittling our entries down to our four finalists was no easy task, and everyone who participated submitted great images. But, we have the best of the best, and now it’s your opportunity to vote. Take a look at the finalist images and their statements, exercise your voting power, and choose your favorite.
Please note: online voting will only be available through Wednesday, May 29, so don’t delay. Once the votes have been tallied, we’ll close out Preservation Month 2024 by announcing the winning image on Friday, May 31. Good luck to our finalists! You can access the voting page here.
Dates to remember
Online voting of finalists: Friday, May 24-Wednesday, May 29
Winner announced: Friday, May 31
2024 Annual Awards
What is the awards nomination process?
To nominate a a person, building, or project, complete a nomination form and attach supporting documents and high-resolution photos. If your documents or photos are large files, please email them to fquinn@heritageohio.org with the name of the nomination in the title of the email. To view a detailed description of the awards categories, view the 2024 Awards List.
All nominations must be received by July 31, 2024. Nominations that do not follow the formatting provided in the form, and incomplete entries will NOT be accepted.
Not sure if your nomination fits a category? Contact us at 614-258-6200 or fquinn@heritageohio.org and we will be happy to discuss the nomination with you.
Award Categories
Main Street Awards
- Best Main Street Committee Project
- Main Street Business of the Year
- Main Street Director of the Year
- Spirit of Main Street
Complete a nomination for a Main Street Award
Projects & Place Awards
- Best Commercial Rehabilitation
- Best Downtown Placemaking
- Best Historic Theater Restoration
- Best Residential Restoration
Complete a nomination for a Projects & Place Award
Individual Awards
- Preservation Hero
- Young Preservationist of the Year
Heritage Ohio’s 2024 Preservation Month Photo Contest | Faces of Preservation
Update May 18: The submission period has closed. Stay tuned to heritageohio.org as we open online voting on Friday, May 24.
As we post this, Preservation Month is just around the corner, and that means Heritage Ohio’s annual Preservation Month Photo Contest is too. This year’s theme is Faces of Preservation and we’re looking forward to seeing some great image submissions. But when we say “Faces of Preservation” what exactly do we mean? It could be the faces of the people who make preservation happen in your community, it could be the “face” of the building that has been part of the community, or it could be both. Whatever the case, capture that winning image and submit it to us by the entry deadline of Friday, May 17.
Once you get that perfect image and tell us a bit about it, submit your entry using our online submission form below. Our Preservation Committee and Board of Trustees will choose finalists from all of the entries we receive, and then we’ll open the contest to online voting. As in years past, your online votes will determine the winner, and the winning image will be featured on the cover of a future issue of Revitalize Ohio. Good luck!
Dates to remember
Entries accepted: Monday, April 29-Friday, May 17
Online voting of finalists: Friday, May 24-Wednesday, May 29
Winner announced: Friday, May 31
Heritage Ohio issues RFP for Franklinton (Columbus) religious resources history & architecture survey
Heritage Ohio is pleased to announce a Request For Proposals to complete a history & architecture survey in the Franklinton neighborhood of Columbus. You can learn more and access the RFP here. Proposals are due no later than January 19, 2024.
Webinar: Archaeological and Interpretive Research at St. Clair’s Defeat and the Battle of Fort Recovery
Wednesday, December 13, 1:00 pm
We have a historical archaeology focus for December as we welcome Christine Thompson of Ball State University to discuss frontier Ohio in the 1790s. The Northwest Indian War battles St. Clair’s Defeat (1791) and Battle of Fort Recovery (1794) involved multiple Native Tribes and the U.S. military. Over 12 years of archaeological, preservation, and interpretive research at the battlefield has evolved into updated interpretation co-created with descendent Tribes. Chris will share a summary of this work, the funding awarded for these projects, and focus on two major interpretive products including an online walking tour/wayside exhibits, and a traveling exhibit St. Clair’s Defeat: A New View of the Conflict.
About our presenter:
Bio: Christine Thompson is the Assistant Director and Archaeologist at the Applied Anthropology Laboratories (AAL), Ball State University. Her research interests include the Late Archaic Glacial Kame culture, public archaeology, NAGPRA, and interpretation of historic battlefields. She works to fulfill the AAL mission of inspiring and preparing AAL student employees for the workforce by providing students hands-on learning opportunities through the fulfillment of grant awards and cultural resource management contracts. Thompson strives to build lasting partnerships with Federally Recognized Tribes, communities, museums, historical societies, and other groups while collaborating on funded research projects.
Heritage Ohio’s 2023 Preservation Month Photo Contest: And the winner is…..
The votes have been tallied and it’s time to announce this year’s winner. Congratulations go out to Brian Hiles for his photo of Elder High School in Cincinnati!
Be sure to catch the winning image on a future issue of Revitalize Ohio. Thank you to everyone who entered the contest and who voted for their favorite image.
Heritage Ohio’s 2023 Preservation Month Photo Contest | The Story of Historic Preservation
Help us celebrate Preservation Month this May by participating in our annual Preservation Month Photo Contest. This year’s theme is “The Story of Historic Preservation” and we’ll be looking for your great images that capture what YOU think celebrates historic preservation. In tandem with your image, we want to hear the great story that goes with it. Whether it’s a story of a formerly endangered building that has been saved, a story of the people who built it, or a story of the people today who love it, we want to know why your subject material is important.
Once you get that perfect image and write the story behind it, submit your entry using our online submission form below (available beginning April 14). Our Preservation Committee and Board of Trustees will choose finalists from all of the entries we receive, and then we’ll open the contest to online voting. As in years past, your online votes will determine the winner! The winning image will be featured on the cover of a future issue of Revitalize Ohio. Good luck!
Dates to remember
Entries accepted: Friday, April 14-Friday, May 12
Online voting of finalists: Friday, May 19-Thursday, May 25
Winner announced: Friday, May 26
Heritage Ohio’s 2022 Preservation Month Photo Contest: and the winner is…
Thank you to everyone who voted this past week for our entries. We’re pleased to announce the winning entry: A Moment Frozen in Time, submitted by Mary Beth Sills.
An intriguing setting combined with great public support for the entry translated into an emphatic contest win. Congratulations to Mary Beth! We’ll be featuring her winning image on a future cover of Revitalize Ohio. Thanks to everyone who voted.
Heritage Ohio’s 2022 Preservation Month Photo Contest: vote for your favorite!
The entries have come in and our finalists have moved on to the online voting round of our Preservation Month Photo Contest. Check out our finalists below and vote for your favorite. Voting closes Monday, May 30, so don’t sleep on casting your vote for your favorite. We’ll announce the winner Tuesday, May 31. Good luck to our finalists, and thanks to everyone who submitted an entry.
Remember, the stakes are high: the winning image will be featured on the cover of an upcoming issue of Revitalize Ohio! Good luck!
Learn more about how each image conveys the spirit of preservation, in the photographer’s own words.
1. For the Love of Liberty: Our Powell Liberty and Delaware County Historical Societies, as well as our Liberty Township Trustees have been instrumental in ensuring the preservation of this, our 1876 farmhouse and home to generations of Bartholomews and Cases. We are so grateful to live in a community that protects its history while embracing its future.
2. Preserving Ohio’s Past for the Future: The white stone exterior of the Ohio Judicial Center captures the pride felt in Ohio’s history. On the front are 14 carved stone panels showing the important industries when the building was completed in 1933. The large art deco statues on either end of the building were proud statement of Ohio’s booming economy. The pride in preserving this historic building is the pride we have in the state of Ohio.
3. Walk Through: Often, I walk through buildings for many reasons including: evaluating conditions, showing property, checking construction progress, etc. When I captured this image, I was really focused on the door frame and how it invited me to walk through. Beyond the door frame, the stairs drew my eyes upward toward a future of possibilities for this space. Then there’s the light. The way in streamed in. It’s like the past was right there and so was the future.
4. Kaleidoscope Carnivore Cafe: The Toledo Zoo’s Carnivore Cafe is one of the most creative adaptive uses in NW Ohio, having been converted from the Carnivora House to the Carnivore Cafe. Now the Toledo Zoo’s most popular eatery, during the famous “Lights Before Christmas” display the cafe literally glows.
5. A Moment Frozen In Time: Taken in Cambridge’s Underground store front this image showcases a prop used during the few tours given to the community to help preserve this rare space.
Heritage Ohio’s 2022 Preservation Month Photo Contest | The Spirit of Historic Preservation
May will be here before we know it, and that brings Preservation Month. And we’re planning to celebrate in style. Already a momentous month for the organization (we’ll be saying good bye to Joyce Barrett, and welcoming Matt Wiederhold as our new executive director) we’re also working on a Preservation Month Webinar Series. Plus, our Preservation Month Photo Contest will launch in late April.
This year’s theme is “The Spirit of Historic Preservation” and we want to know what that means to you, and how you convey that spirit in your photo entry. It could be an artistic image of your favorite historic Ohio building, a vibrant Main Street in action, or a beautiful home awaiting its rehab hero.
Once you get that perfect image, submit your entry using our online submission form below (available beginning April 25). Our Preservation Committee will choose finalists from all of our entries, and we’ll open the contest to online voting. As in years past, your online votes will determine the winner!
Remember: the winner’s prize includes their winning image featured on the cover of Revitalize Ohio! Good luck!
Dates to remember
Entries accepted: Monday, April 25-Monday, May 16 at noon
Online voting of finalists: Monday, May 23-Monday, May 30
Winner announced: Tuesday, May 31