For its preservation efforts, Lowell has received several honors.
Lowell was named to the inaugural list of America's Dozen Distinctive Destinations by the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 2000.
In 2002, the Historic Board and several partners were recognized by the National Trust for Historic Preservation with one of its distinguished National Preservation Honor Awards.
Lowell was also designated a Preserve America community in 2004 by the White House and the federal Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. At the same time, Doors Open Lowell, an event dedicated to creating awareness of preservation, architecture, and design which was the first such program in the United States when begun in 2002 was recognized as an “innovative program.”