LOCAL RESOURCES:
Preservation Suppliers & Contractors
The WA Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation has compiled a list of sources for restoration, rehabilitation, and preservation of historic resources. The department serves only in a referral capacity and doesn't guarantee the quality of work or product. Scroll down to bottom of the page to link to Excel lists which include some Tacoma area contractors and suppliers.
Tacoma Then and Now
Gordon Swetland's blog features photos comparing Tacoma's past to the present, with a dose of historical perspective and editorial comment. Includes links to contemporary photos and 1978 photos by Tacoma-Fairbanks photography legend Stephen Cysewski. You'll see "why it's important to document this great city and realize the changes... it will leave you thinking happy thoughts in a difficult time."
Nominating a Property to the Tacoma Register of Historic Places
A quick tip sheet to answer your questions and guide you through the process, produced in collaboration with the City's Historic Preservation Office.
City of Tacoma Historic Preservation Program
A dynamic site which includes up-to-date listing of the city's 1300+ land marked properties and historic districts, standards and financial incentives for rehabilitation of historic properties, details on how to nominate a landmark, and research tools.
Tacoma/Pierce County Buildings Database
Brought to you by Tacoma Public Library, this invaluable resource provides archival news articles and photos documenting sites and structures throughout the county. The best place to start your research. Access is via street address and keyword searching. Bravo!
A Small Tacoma Bookshelf
If you only had a small shelf on which to keep a library of books on Tacoma, what would you choose? Michael Sullivan's tastes tend to wander from conventional works of history and memoir into the realm of fiction, pop culture and the simply odd artifact. Michael, an ardent preservationist and a co-founder of Historic Tacoma, includes titles on the building of the city and its reach. With a few words of explanation and intellectual defense, here are his choices.
Tacoma Historical Society
The Society celebrates the rich and vibrant history of Tacoma and its people. Check out the site for monthly lectures and tours, including the ever-inspiring May Historic Homes Tour.
Pierce County Historic Preservation
The website of the county's preservation program features the Pierce County Register of Historic Places which includes a number of Tacoma sites.
STATE RESOURCES:
The Economic Benefits of Historic Preservation in WA State (Adobe Acrobat required) A study by the Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation reveals that historic rehab activities, qualifying under federal and state tax credit programs from 2000 to 2004 generated average spending of $83.5 million per year. The study builds the case by studying the impact of heritage tourism, the WA Main Street program, jobs and labor income, and property values on the state's economic development. Data for Tacoma and Pierce County is itemized in the report.
History Link
This online encyclopedia of Washington history provides over 4000 articles on both prominent and obscure events, people, and sites. Easy to use, the site includes several Tacoma cybertours and a series of study aids for students and educators.
Docomomo WEWA
This group is devoted to the DOcumentation and COnservation of the MOdernist MOvement in WEstern WAshington. A brilliant site with great information on modernist architects, building styles, individual structures and neighborhoods… betcha you'll find a few Tacoma favorites.
Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation
The site provides information, documents, maps and photos on the state's archaeological and historic sites. Their new online GIS mapping tool, WISAARD, provides easy access to historic sites listed on the state and national register.
NATIONAL RESOURCES:
National Center for Preservation Technology and Training
A National Park Service initiative, the Center offers technical programs and resources on archaeology, architecture and engineering, historic landscapes, heritage education, and more.
National Register of Historic Places
Another project of the National Park Service, the site documents 2500 properties that "possess exceptional value or quality in illustrating or interpreting the heritage of the United States." Try a "Tacoma" search.
Partners for Sacred Places
"A national, non-sectarian, non-profit organization devoted to helping congregations and their communities sustain and actively use older and historic sacred places."
ADVOCACY:
Washington Trust for Historic Preservation
The state's premier preservation organization is devoted to education, advocacy, collaboration and stewardship. The Trust addresses public policy issues, advocates for rehabilitation and re-use of historic structures such as courthouses and schools, funds studies and rehab projects across the state, and produces the annual Endangered Historic Properties List.
National Trust for Historic Preservation
A leader in the preservation movement, the Trust promotes advocacy and education. Their website offers a wealth of information ranging from technical advice to financing options, while raising awareness of important public policy issues. Their national conferences and workshops are first-rate.
Preservation Action
This non-profit group lobbies to protect federal funding and regulations that support historic preservation. Tacoma funding examples include transportation enhancement funding for Tacoma's Foss Waterway Esplanade (1.25 million) and the Spanish Steps ($944,000), three historic property inventories since 2003, and federal tax incentives for dozens of Tacoma redevelopment projects.
