POPLAR FOREST EARNS ACCOLADES FROM NATIONAL TRUST
Poplar Forest release, Fall 1998

The National Trust for Historic Preservation, the nation’s premiere organization in its field, has recognized the outstanding restoration and preservation efforts at Poplar Forest by selecting the nonprofit corporation for a 1998 National Preservation Honor Award.

Trust President Richard Moe said Poplar Forest "is everything that I had heard it was and much more. I am enormously impressed by all that you have done, painstakingly, and always correctly, to restore this wonderful place to its original magnificence. This is a great example of preservation at its best."

Poplar Forest President Mary Denny Wray said, "This award recognizes the dedication and support of the many individuals who contribute time, vision and funding to this project. It also recognizes the fine work of staff and restoration crew members who have transformed research and people’s aspirations for this property into reality."

The Honor Award is the Trust’s annual program to identify organizations and individuals whose projects demonstrate outstanding dedication to excellence in historic preservation. Winners are judged on achievements in the preservation, rehabilitation, restoration and interpretation of America’s architectural and cultural heritage.

Criteria include the quality and degree of difficulty of the nominee’s project; and the degree to which the nominee’s project is unusual or pioneering. Poplar Forest completed restoration of the exterior of Jefferson’s home in the summer of 1998. Work continues on the interior, wing and landscape.