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Historic Sites:
Survey and Inventory
The Washington State Inventory of Cultural Resources contains thousands of records documenting historic properties across the state. As such, this repository contains volumes of information revealing important insights into the built environment of Washington.
The Inventory plays a critical role in cultural resource management and sound historic preservation planning activities around the state. The inventory forms, survey reports, maps, photographs, sketches and other document types held in the Inventory are irreplaceable for a variety of users including: property owners, cultural resource consultants, researchers, government agencies, tribal governments, planners, and project designers. By first exploring inventory holdings, researchers are able to gain important information for project planning, environmental assessments, and land use management, as well as local growth management planning projects.
Architectural surveys fall into two general classifications: intensive and reconnaissance levels. Both types have a place, depending on the amount of information to be collected, the time and budget available, and the geographic dispersion of the resources.
The Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP) is mandated by federal and state statutes to house and maintain these records. Records held in the Inventory document a variety of property types in one of the following general categories: buildings, structures, sites, districts, and objects. These categories conform to those property types considered eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places and the Washington Heritage Register.
As steward of the Inventory, DAHP is responsible for managing this large and complex archive. In this role, DAHP strives to make the information as efficient and useful as possible. Several staff members devote their full time and energy toward this end. Of late, major progress has been made to place the records into electronic databases and to scan the original documents to create electronic images. This transformation into a digital format is designed to speed the retrieval of a specific record while at the same time helping to conserve the original documents. In addition to enhancing the ease and efficiency of data retrieval, DAHP wants to strengthen the value of the Inventory for project planners and researchers in this age of high expectations for immediate turn-around times.
- Historic Property Users Manual (download pdf file)
- Architectural Style & Form List (download pdf file)
- Architectural Description Guide (Download pdf file)
Discussion of the state's historic built environment would not be complete without acknowledging a growing public interest in historic properties constructed from the post WWII ear. Such properties include those associated with America's roadside culture including motels, drive-
in restaurants, gas stations and automobile dealerships. However, interest in the recent past goes beyond popular culture to include modernist skyscrapers, shopping centers, churches and suburban housing tracts.
In 2003 DAHP took the lead by launching the state's first attempt to spark the discussion and appreciation of the built environment that best represents the last 50 years. The "Nifty From the Last 50 Initiative" launched at the State Historic Preservation Officers Award Ceremony, involves a grass roots approach to identify and document such sites for future reference in state and local databases.
How to Get Your Copy of the Historic Property Inventory Database Structure
The Statewide Historic Property Inventory Database was created in 2002 to streamline the survey and inventory process in Washington. The database available from this web site is a blank version of the database that is housed at DAHP. It is our hope that by making a blank version of the database available to local governments, consultants, and others interested in documenting historic properties in their communities; we will increase the ease and accessibility of information about historic properties in Washington state in the future.
DAHP is currently adding records to our database and several local governments and consulting firms are populating their own databases and in turn providing that information to us to be integrated into the "statewide" version hosted by DAHP. DAHP provides access to the statewide database at designated computer terminals in our office and we hope to eventually have the database available to researchers via the web.
As of January 1, 2005 all submissions of Historic Property Inventory Forms to DAHP must be created on the Historic Property Inventory Database and in turn, we must receive the inventory forms electronically. This includes inventory work completed for Section 106 compliance, inventories done for Certified Local Government grants, and all other inventory submissions. The Historic Property Inventory Database is available free of charge from DAHP.
In order to receive your copy of DAHP's Statewide Historic Property Inventory Database Structure, please complete the Registration Form and return it by email to Megan Duvall, Survey Program Manager, at Megan.Duvall@dahp.wa.gov.
Once the Registration Form has been completed and emailed, DAHP will forward you a web page where you can download the Statewide Historic Property Inventory Database Structure, the current National and State Register Database, the Historic Import Database, "Washington's Statewide Historic Property Inventory Guide and Database User Manual", and the field form and field form addendum. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact Megan Duvall at 360-586-3074 or at Megan.Duvall@dahp.wa.gov.
Up Date Notes:
Version 1.3 available now on hidden web page. 8/04/04
Department of Archaeology & Historic Preservation
1063 South Capitol Way, Suite 106
Olympia WA 98501
Phone: 360-586-3065
Fax: 360-586-3067