THE JACK JOUETT HOUSE was honored at the 38th annual Ida Lee Willis Memorial Foundation Historic Preservation Awards with a Service to Preservation Award. Pictured are former Executive Director Janice Clark and Archaeology Project Director Nick Laracuente. (Photo submitted) The Ida Lee Willis Memorial Foundation awards are presented each May during National Historic Preservation Month. This year also marks the 50th anniversary of the National Historic Preservation Act and the founding of the Kentucky Heritage Council. The awards are named for Ida Lee Willis, widow of former Gov. Simeon Willis at the time she was appointed first executive director of the Kentucky Heritage Commission (now the Kentucky Heritage Council) in 1966 In recognition of designing a unique public archaeology project that continues to build momentum, and for educating a wider public audience about the importance of archaeology and how artifacts expand our understanding of historic places, the Jack Jouett Archaeology Project was presented with a Service to Preservation Award, which honors those who have demonstrated a strong commitment to historic preservation, had a positive impact on preserving historic or prehistoric resources through advocacy or education, or developed innovative or model preservation programs. Now in its third season, the Jack Jouett Archaeology Project has recruited more than 100 active volunteers, welcoming anyone interested to take part in the archaeological study of Kentucky’s early distillery industry. This community archaeology project has worked to reveal the story of a distillery and grist mill operated on Craigs Creek in Woodford County by Jack Jouett, who was a hero of the American Revolution. The program was the brainchild of archaeologist Nicolas Laracuente, who worked in his personal time to develop the concept in partnership Janice Clark, former site director of the Jack Jouett House Historic Site. The project received support from and was sponsored by Woodford County Fiscal Court and the Woodford County Heritage Committee, with additional support from the Kentucky Distillers Association and the Kentucky Heritage Council.