Little Rock’s Quapaw Quarter Association will host its Annual Membership Meeting tonight.  A highlight of the evening will be the presentation of the Greater Little Rock Preservation Awards.  Preceding the awards presentation will be remarks by Kirk Huffaker, Executive Director of the Utah Heritage Foundation.

The meeting takes place at the Historic Arkansas Museum in the Ottenheimer Theatre.  Following a 5:30 reception, the business meeting will take place.  Ron Maxwell and Kathy Webb have been chosen to be new members of the QQA board.  Other new members are Gabe Holmstrom, Greg Nabholz, Shana Woodard and Ron Woods.

The Quapaw Quarter Association is a non-profit historic preservation advocacy organization whose mission is to promote the preservation of the historic buildings and neighborhoods of Greater Little Rock.

The QQA grew out of an effort to identify and protect significant historic structures in Little Rock during the “urban renewal” days of the early 1960s, making it one of the oldest preservation organizations in the nation.

Throughout its existence, the QQA has been a driving force behind historic preservation in Greater Little Rock, which now boasts over 250 individually-listed National Register properties as well as 15 National Register Historic Districts.

In addition to advocacy on local preservation issues, the QQA’s programs include its online newsletter, the Chronicle; an annual Spring Tour of Historic Homes; public workshops; and an historic house marker program.  Rhea Roberts is the executive director.

In 2007, the QQA entered into a contract with the City of Little Rock to manage the city’s Visitor Information Center at Historic Curran Hall.  The ca. 1842-43 Greek Revival-style house also serves as the Mayor’s Reception Hall and is available for rental for private receptions and events.