The Los Altos chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) recently recognized Los Altos resident Mary Kay “Marina” Marinovich with the 2025 Historic Preservation Medal. This award honors a person who has done extraordinary historic preservation volunteer work over a long period of time. The Los Altos Chapter presented this medal to Marinovich for her work for the Immigrant House in Mountain View.
The Immigrant House was originally built in 1888 and serves as a symbol of the resilience and contributions of immigrant families in the region. Marinovich’s leadership, advocacy and collaborative efforts over the past dozen years helped to protect the Immigrant House from demolition and ensure its future as an educational resource and historical site. She organized fundraising events, lobbied local government, coordinated preservation efforts with historians and architects, and educated the public about the historical importance of the building.
Marinovich secured grants and other financial support for the preservation project. She worked closely with historians and preservation experts to ensure that the restoration efforts align with the historical integrity of the house, respecting its architectural features and historical context. Her work not only saved the Immigrant House and highlighted immigrants’ contributions to the Bay Area, but also inspired others in the community to take up historic preservation causes of their own.
In 2016, the structure was moved to its current site at Heritage Park, 771 N. Rengstorff Ave., Mountain View. The organization “Friends of Immigrant House” works to preserve the Immigrant House and organizes events at the site, such as the upcoming seventh-annual Harvest History Festival set for this fall.
Learn more about the Immigrant House at immigranthousemv.com/.
The Los Altos Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, was founded in 1950 and celebrated its 75th anniversary in February. The chapter focuses on local historic preservation projects, genealogy research, education, fundraising for a Foothill College scholarship fund, environmental conservation, service to veterans, and other community projects. The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution is a non-profit, non-political, volunteer women’s service organization dedicated to promoting patriotism, preserving American history, and securing America’s future through better education for children. Any woman 18 years or older is eligible to join if she can prove lineal descent from a supporter of the American Revolution (through military service, financial donations such as donotivos at the California presidios, food supply, government service or other support).
For more information, visit losaltos.californiadar.org.
