Our Most Endangered Historic Places

The Washington Trust for Historic Preservation will hold a press event on Tuesday, May 23rd, at 11:00 a.m. to announce its annual list of Most Endangered Historic Properties in Washington. The press conference will be held in front of First United Methodist Church at 423 Martin Luther King, Jr. Way in Tacoma. Development pressures threaten First United Methodist with demolition and the church is included in this year’s Most Endangered Properties list.

The Washington Trust has identified more than 80 threatened sites since it began the Most Endangered Historic Properties List in 1992. A listing creates awareness and rallies support for key historic resources in danger of being lost. As pieces of the past disappear, so too does a community’s sense of place. The Washington Trust seeks to preserve the irreplaceable heritage of our state. The sites on each year’s list are thus representative of the various threats faced by historic sites in Washington: demolition, neglect, lack of funds, inappropriate development, or insensitive public policy. For every listed property, there are many worthy and significant candidates in similar circumstances.

The Washington Trust for Historic Preservation, a nonprofit organization, promotes the preservation of historic places in Washington State through education, advocacy, collaboration, and stewardship. Founded in 1976, the Washington Trust addresses its mission through the annual Most Endangered Historic Properties List, educational tours of its landmark headquarters, the Stimson-Green Mansion in Seattle, conferences and training workshops, a quarterly members’ newsletter, a small grants fund, and action on legislation and public policy. Visit the Trust website at www.wa-trust.org for more information.