Historic Resources Survey

In 2000, the City of Seattle began a systematic and comprehensive effort to survey and inventory historic resources in the City. To date, surveys and inventories of eight neighborhoods have been completed as well as neighborhood commercial districts and residential properties built prior to 1906.

The last citywide survey was completed in 1979. Unlike the current effort, the 1979 survey was a "windshield" survey that identified buildings that appeared to have architectural significance but the surveyors did not have the tools to conduct additional historical research to evaluate the significance of the properties. Beginning with the survey and inventory of City-owned properties in 2000, professional architectural historians and volunteers have surveyed and inventoried more than 5000 properties that are included in the database are now available to the public.

This site includes:

• The database of historic properties
  
  
• Glossary of Terms
  
  
• Context statements for the neighborhoods for which a survey and inventory has been completed
  
  
• Frequently asked questions about the survey and inventory process