Perryville Battlefield manager earns award for preservation work

Published 7:34 pm Thursday, June 13, 2019

KY TOURISM CABINET

News release

LEXINGTON — Joni House, the manager of Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site, was  honored for her preservation work by the American Battlefield Trust during its recent annual conference in Lexington.

Email newsletter signup

The Kentucky State Parks were also recognized with a State Preservation Leadership Award from the trust.

Joni House, manager of Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site, received the Shelby Foote Preservation Legacy Award on May 30. (Photo contributed)

House received the Shelby Foote Preservation Legacy Award for her work at Perryville. The trust noted that House has overseen “the steady preservation of that bluegrass jewel and significantly advanced public understanding of the compatibility of battlefield preservation and native habitat restoration.”

She received her award on May 30 during an awards luncheon. Perryville Battlefield is the site of the largest Civil War battle in Kentucky in 1862. During the last few years, the park has planted native plants to attract more wildlife.

House has worked at Perryville Battlefield since 2004, serving as a historic preservation coordinator. She was named park manager in early 2018. House also serves as president of the Kentucky Civil War Sites Association.

House, a native of Nicholasville, earned a degree in history from Kentucky State University and a master’s degree from the University of Kentucky in historic preservation.

The trust cited the Kentucky State Parks as stewards of Revolutionary War and Civil War sites, including Fort Boonesborough, Old Fort Harrod, Blue Licks and Perryville.