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Organizers report strong turnout for 'AIMS: A Glimpse Inside' and ask Historic Preservation Commission for 2026 support
Summary
Organizers told the Ames Historic Preservation Commission that the inaugural 'AIMS: A Glimpse Inside' opened 10 properties, produced 16 storyboards and drew an estimated 275 participants; they asked the commission to consider funding and will bring a draft 2026 budget to a future meeting.
Organizers of the inaugural “AIMS: A Glimpse Inside” told the Ames Historic Preservation Commission on Nov. 10 that the event drew broad public interest and that they will seek commission support to hold it again in 2026.
Sharon Worth, the event chair and lead organizer, said the Oct. 18 event opened 10 properties across the Old Town and Main Street National Register districts and included a sponsored day at the AIMS History Museum. “We are estimating about 275 participants,” Worth said, while acknowledging the figure is approximate because attendees moved among sites.
Worth said the program emphasized education and access: organizers produced 16 storyboards explaining local architecture and history, arranged behind-the-counter guided tours at the post office and offered free admission at the museum. Volunteers also played a central role; Worth reported 32 volunteers and about 110 volunteer hours on the day of the event, and she estimated the six lead organizers logged roughly 80 planning meetings and more than 250 hours of research to prepare materials.
The organizers reported a total event budget of just over $6,000. Worth said $1,700 of the commission’s prior allocation paid for durable, reusable items — 20 easels and clicker counters — and that the group ultimately did not need a separate $500 allocation from the current fiscal year. Two surveys produced 46 written responses; Worth said 76% of respondents listed “learning new things about AIMS” as the event’s top value.
Commission members asked for more detail about next year’s costs and funding sources. An organizer who worked on the budget said a 2026 plan would likely be “in that same ballpark” if the event’s scale remains similar and agreed to bring a draft budget to the commission’s next meeting so members can consider whether and at what level to contribute.
Shelly Orangard, one of the event organizers, and Alex Fafar of the Ames History Museum were both thanked during the discussion for their roles in planning and research. Worth also thanked the Discover Ames Group, the Old Town Neighborhood Association and private donors for financial support.
The commission expressed broad appreciation for the event and for Worth’s leadership. As the meeting closed, the commission presented a certificate of appropriateness to longtime staff representative Ray Anderson in recognition of his service.
