A website that lets you take virtual tours of historic places throughout Elgin, IL, has landed national recognition for the Elgin Heritage Commission.

At the 2016 National Alliance of Preservation Commissions biennial conference held in Mobile, AL, on July 29, 2016, the Elgin Heritage Commission was honored with a “Best Practices” award for their Historic Elgin website. The National Alliance of Preservation Commissions is a non-profit group that is focused on aiding local commissions across the country accomplish their preservation goals.

Elgin Heritage Commission Chairman, John Wiedmeyer and Heritage Commission staff member Christen Sundquist were in attendance to accept the award.

The National Alliance of Preservation Commission’s Awards Committee were “very impressed by the Elgin Heritage Commission’s effort to digitize and make accessible to the public the information about Elgin’s historic properties that has been assembled over the years as part of the organization’s plaque program.

The National Alliance of Preservation Commissions recognized this initiative as an excellent example of Best Practices by a commission in the use of technology. In presenting the award, th NAPC committee judges said they were “impressed by the commission’s resourcefulness in pursuing an affordable way to both make the information readily accessible and provide the necessary flexibility to add new information over time.”

Community Development intern Kim Bauer and Elgin Historic District resident Ben Eubank were recognized for their collaboration in creating the interactive website.

The Elgin Heritage Commission will present the award to members of the City Council and the city manager at the Wednesday, Sept. 14, City Council meeting.

For more information about the Historic Elgin website, please contact Christen Sundquist in the Community Development Department at 847-931-6004.

About the Elgin Heritage Commission

The Elgin Heritage Commission is a citizen’s advisory commission that promotes Elgin’s historic preservation activity through the protection, maintenance and preservation of the city’s architectural, historic and cultural resources. The Elgin Heritage Commission is composed of nine voting members appointed by the Mayor with the consent of the Elgin City Council.

SOURCE: Elgin Heritage Center news release