05/29/2026
As we wrap up Historic Preservation Month, we wanted to welcome our new followers and thank everyone for a month of great engagement, questions, comments, and sharing of memories. If we missed answering a question, feel free to drop it below, and we'll do our best.
Historic preservation is the practice of protecting and maintaining buildings, objects, landscapes, or other artifacts that hold historical or cultural significance. It involves a range of activities, including research, documentation, planning, and physical work like restoration or rehabilitation. The goal is to safeguard these resources for future generations, ensuring they remain accessible and meaningful.
Preservation work can involve conducting research and documentation to learn about the history of a building, district, or site. It can also be the physical restoration to ensure a building’s longevity and security, or the interpretation of significance for public education purposes.
Importantly, it helps to connect a community to its past, provides insights used for planning, defines the physical character of towns and cities, and offers other economic benefits by way of tourism, community development, and investment.
This building below, once known as the Panovitz Building, tells the story of early immigrants and their investment in our booming frontier town. The building has been home to many businesses throughout its history and was saved and carefully rehabilitated following the devastating 1997 flood.
But we're not done! Next week, we'll be publishing a survey seeking your input to help us with our Preservation Planning. We'll also continue to post places and people of interest that highlight the rich history of Grand Forks!
🏨: Panovitz Building, 33 S. 3rd Street, built c. 1907. It was designed by renowned local architect Joseph Bell DeRemer and was occupied by the Panovitz Furniture store. The oversized display windows allowed for furniture to be seen from the street.
