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National Trust for Historic Preservation Bestows Prestigious Award To O’Connor House

September 25, 2025

The Sandra Day O’Connor Institute is proud to announce that the O’Connor House in Tempe, Arizona, has been awarded the esteemed National Trust for Historic Preservation Trustees’ Emeritus Award for Historic Site Stewardship. The honor was presented in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, at its annual PastForward Conference in September. Only eight historic projects and organizations nationwide were recognized for exemplary preservation work. A glass National Preservation Award trophy sits on a table outdoors, with a wooden building and trees in the background under a clear blue sky.

The O’Connor House, conserved by the Sandra Day O’Connor Institute, is the historic adobe family home of retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman appointed to the nation’s highest court. To prevent its demolition, the home was meticulously relocated brick by brick to the pristine desert setting of Papago Park in Tempe, Arizona. Today, the O’Connor House stands as an icon for the Sandra Day O’Connor Institute, serving as a symbol of Justice O’Connor’s lifetime work and a gathering place for civic engagement and civility.

“Justice O’Connor’s vision was to create a place where people could come together to address society’s problems through respectful dialogue,” said Gay Wray, Co-Chair of the O’Connor Institute Board of Directors. “The O’Connor House embodies the work of Justice O’Connor, and we are deeply honored that the National Trust for Historic Preservation has recognized its enduring significance.”

The National Preservation Awards, established over six decades ago, are among the highest honors in the field, spotlighting distinguished individuals, organizations, and historic places that enrich their communities through preservation. This year’s awardees reflect the power of historic places to strengthen community engagement, nurture culture, and inspire future generations.

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Carol Quillen, president and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, remarked, “Preservation is a creative force. Historic places hold shared memories that can bring us together. By saving and thoughtfully adapting them for new uses, we can strengthen community engagement, nurture local culture, promote economic opportunity, and reduce waste.”

The O’Connor House is celebrated as a home that symbolizes the trailblazing life of Justice O’Connor and as an icon of civility and civic engagement.

For more information about the O’Connor House and the Sandra Day O’Connor Institute, visit OConnorInstitute.org.

To read more about the National Trust for Historic Preservation and this year’s honorees, visit the National Trust.

Watch a special video about this award.

With Gratitude To Those Who Played A Significant Early Role in Saving and Preserving The O’Connor House: