The restoration of Boston’s Washington Street theaters has received a national award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino joined representatives from Boston’s historical preservation community, Emerson College and Suffolk University in Buffalo, N.Y., to accept the esteemed Preservation Honor Award.

The project is one of 23 award winners honored by the National Trust during its 2011 National Preservation Conference held this week in Buffalo. There will also be a local celebration of the award at the Boston Opera House on Monday.

"This award and the successful preservation of these historic theaters in the heart of Boston is a tribute to what true collaboration can accomplish," Menino said. "In recognizing the importance of investing in these special buildings, Suffolk, Emerson, and our partners have not only restored a unique piece of Boston history, but helped revitalize the Theater District and expanded opportunities for art and education in Boston."

The Boston Opera House, Paramount and Modern theaters were lavish palaces when they first opened in the early 20th century, but by the 1970s they had fallen into disrepair. In 1995 the National Trust for Historic Preservation included the theaters on its list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Places. Menino and city agencies developed a network of public-private partnerships to help restore the buildings and revitalize the neighborhood.

Emerson College now operates the Paramount Theater while Suffolk University has restored the Modern Theatre, and the Boston Opera House is one of the busiest theaters in New England.