The Charlotte Gem Preservation Awards

Celebrate the Power of Preservation at the Charlotte Gem Preservation Awards, the premiere fundraising event for the Charlotte Museum of History. These awards celebrate restoration and building projects in the greater Charlotte region that exemplify the best of historic preservation. By shining a light on successful preservation projects that enrich our communities culturally and economically, the awards encourage everyone who calls Charlotte 'home' to save our historic built environment.

Save the Date for the 2024 Charlotte Gem Preservation Awards! See you May 9, 2024.

2023 Event Activities

Activities Include:

• Moonshine Tastings
• Axe Throwing
• Lion Dancer Performance
• Performances by the Summer Soul Xperience
• Access to the "Captured in Cartoons" Exhibit
• Awards Ceremony
• Remarks by the inaugural Charlotte Gem Awardee Anthony Foxx

2023 Schedule of Events

6:00pm - The Event Begins with Moonshine Tastings, Axe Throwing, Musical Performances, and Special Access to the Two Newest Exhibitions 

6:30pm - Chinese Lion Dancers Performance by Thundering Wave Martial Arts Studio

7:00pm - The Awards Ceremony Begins in the Great Hall

7:45pm - The Summer Soul Xperience Band Take the Stage for a Musical Celebration & All Activities Resume Throughout the Museum

Meet this year's winners. Learn more about each project by clicking the links below.

The Charlotte Gem Award

This year during the awards ceremony in addition to the six (6) awards listed below, we will also be honoring an individual - a "Charlotte Gem" - someone who actively works to make Charlotte and the Piedmont Region a better place to live through advocacy, volunteerism, and general support for our community. This special award is selected by the Charlotte Museum of History Board of Trustees. 2023 will be the first year we honor someone with this capstone achievement.

Charlotte Preservation Awards Categories

NOMINATIONS ARE CLOSED FOR THE 2023 AWARDS

The Charlotte Preservation Awards honor restoration and building projects in the greater Charlotte region that exemplify the best of historic preservation. There are six award categories to which the public can make nominations:

• Preservation (Residential) – Restoration of a historic residential structure; may include a new addition to the historic structure
• Preservation (Commercial) – Restoration of a historic commercial structure
• Neighborhood Infill (Residential) – New residential building that integrates sensitively with its historic environment
• Neighborhood Infill (Commercial) – New commercial building that integrates sensitively with its historic environment
• Excellence in Preservation – A person, group, or project (not covered in the previous categories) that preserves the cultural or built heritage of a neighborhood or community. Acceptable nominees include, but are not limited to: local governments, neighborhood associations, clubs, community groups, nonprofit organizations, or individuals.
• Preservation in a Small/Medium Community – Restoration of a historic structure with population less than 100,000 (must be located within Cabarrus, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, or Union Counties).