Who can nominate

Anyone can submit a nomination for a public award. You’re welcome to nominate yourself, your organization, or a project you worked on. Choose the category that best fits the work and submit one form per nominee or project. If there’s a better fit, the review panel may consider the nomination in another category.

Volunteer of the Year is selected through the Historical Society’s internal nomination process.

What qualifies

The person, organization, or project must have made a contribution to Marathon County’s history or historic preservation. Property awards are open to properties in Marathon County. Properties can qualify whether or not they are officially designated as a historic landmark.

Restoration and adaptive reuse projects must have been completed between January 1, 2026 and December 31, 2026. Stewardship, leadership, advocacy, and lifetime contributions may reflect work over a longer period. See the category descriptions below for what the panel will consider.

Award categories

Residential Restoration Excellence
Recognizes work that preserves or restores the historic character of a home. The panel looks for care in retaining historic features, using appropriate materials and methods, and contributing to the neighborhood's character.

Commercial Restoration Excellence
Recognizes the restoration of a historic commercial, civic, or other public-facing building. The panel looks for care in preserving historic features, a thoughtful balance between modern use and historic character, and benefits to the surrounding community.

Emerging Leader in Preservation
Recognizes someone within their first years of involvement in historic preservation who has already made a meaningful contribution in Marathon County. The award is open to people of any age and recognizes paid or volunteer work. The panel looks for initiative, practical contributions, and the ability to bring others into the work.

Lifetime Achievement / Legacy
Honors an individual whose sustained commitment to preservation has had a lasting effect in Marathon County. The panel looks at the scope of the person’s contributions, their influence on others, and what their work has made possible over time.

Stewardship Award
Recognizes an individual or organization for sustained care of a historic property or site in Marathon County. The panel looks at maintenance and repair over time, the historic features protected through that care, and how the property is used or cared for today.

Advocacy Award
Recognizes an individual or group that advances historic preservation through public awareness, planning, or policy. The panel looks for a clearly defined issue, effective outreach or advocacy, and a result such as greater public participation, a change in policy, or protection for a historic place.

Volunteer of the Year
Honors a Marathon County Historical Society volunteer whose service has made a meaningful difference to the organization and the people it serves. This award is nominated internally.

What to have ready

• The nominee’s name and a way to reach them, if available. For a building or site, include its location.

• A 150–300 word description of the work and a short explanation of what it accomplished for Marathon County.

• For a property project, at least one current photo and before photos if available. For a person or organization, a relevant photo or other documentation of the work is welcome. You may also include a short video link and supporting documents.

• Names of the people or organizations that should be credited, if known.

Please upload files you have permission to share for review. The Historical Society will use submitted materials in a public presentation, publication, or social media post.

How recipients are selected

A review panel considers how well each nomination fits its category, the quality of the work, and its impact in Marathon County. Panel members step aside from reviewing entries in which they have a conflict of interest. The Historical Society may leave a category unawarded. We’ll contact selected honorees privately before the April reception to confirm participation and presentation details.

Questions or help submitting

Email Blake@MarathonCountyHistory.org or call 715-842-5750 if you have a question about eligibility, need help choosing a category, or would like another way to submit your nomination or photos.