The Pella Area Community & Economic Alliance (PACE) recognized the significant impact Historic Pella Trust has made on the community by honoring us with the 2019 Heritage Award.

We were chosen because of our mission to protect and promote buildings, sites and landscapes important to Pella’s heritage. We advocate for the preservation of historic architecture that helps make Pella unique. They recognized HPT for rescuing the 1843 Tuttle Log Cabin, the 1856 Rock House on University Street, the Stegeman Store, and the 1860 Soul Sleepers Church, along with recognizing the research and documentation of other historic buildings, and establishing Pella’s first historic district – the Collegiate Neighborhood Historic District. Many of these landmarks have been added to the National Register of Historic Places through the work of Historic Pella Trust.

PACE noted the Trust’s contributions toward the Tuttle Learning Walk, in partnership with the City of Pella. The Tuttle Learning Walk is an educational project that will create an entertaining way for children, adults and visitors to learn about Pella’s history and heritage through signage and plantings. The walkway will begin at the homestead of Thomas and Nancy Tuttle and end at Sunken Gardens Park, with signs along the way featuring QR codes to scan for more history and photos of Pella. The Trust is fundraising to cover the costs of the Learning Walk. The total project budget is $195,000 and to date, HPT has 70% raised. The construction of the brick educational pathway will begin in April of 2020.