WASHINGTON TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION

IT WAS A BUSY YEAR FOR ADVOCACY, AS WE WORKED TO ENSURE THAT PRESERVATION HAD A VOICE AT THE STATE AND NATIONAL LEVELS. FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2020, WE RETURNED TO WASHINGTON, D.C., FOR PRESERVATION ADVOCACY WEEK, MEETING CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES TO ADVOCATE FOR FEDERAL PRESERVATION POLICIES AND FUNDINGAND RECEIVING RECOGNITION AS THE LARGEST DELEGATION IN THE COUNTRY FOR OUR 15-PERSON CREW. AT THE STATE LEVEL, WE MET WITH LAWMAKERS TO SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATE FOR CONTINUED FUNDING FOR THE WASHINGTON STATE MAIN STREET PROGRAM AND THE DEPARTMENT OF ARCHAEOLOGY & HISTORIC PRESERVATION'S FOUR CAPITAL GRANT PROGRAMS FOR HISTORIC BARNS, COUNTY COURTHOUSES, CEMETERIES, AND THEATERS IN THE 2023-2025 STATE BUDGET. AS STATE LEADERS WORKED TO ADDRESS THE HOUSING CRISIS, WE ADVOCATED FOR THE ROLE THAT PRESERVATION CAN PLAY, ISSUING A HOUSING POSITION PAPER IN CONJUNCTION WITH KEY PARTNERS AND STAKEHOLDERS.OUR MAJOR PROGRAMS GREW SIGNIFICANTLY IN 2023. MARITIME WASHINGTON NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA ACTIVITIES OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED, WITH INFORMATIONAL EVENTS FROM ABERDEEN TO BELLINGHAM. THE WASHINGTON STATE MAIN STREET PROGRAM NETWORK GREW TO 72 TOWNS AND CITIES WITH THE ADDITION OF TWO NEW COMMUNITIES (LACROSSE AND RENTON) AND THREE NEW AFFILIATES (AUBURN, EATONVILLE, AND ILWACO). THE REVITALIZEWA ANNUAL CONFERENCE TRAVELED TO VANCOUVER FOR OUR BEST-ATTENDED EVENT EVER, ATTRACTING 350 ATTENDEES AND CONTRIBUTING $200,000 TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY. THE 10TH ANNUAL YOUTH HERITAGE PROJECT TOOK 42 STUDENTS TO THE MANHATTAN PROJECT NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK AT HANFORD TO LEARN ABOUT THE SITES AND COMMUNITIES BEHIND THE WORLD'S FIRST ATOMIC BOMBS. STUDENTS ALSO LEARNED ABOUT THE TRIBAL NATIONS WHO HAVE CALLED THE TRI-CITIES REGION HOME SINCE TIME IMMEMORIAL, THE WORKERS (AND ASSOCIATED HISTORY OF SEGREGATION) WHO HELPED BUILD THE WORLD'S FIRST PLUTONIUM PRODUCTION FACILITIES, THE COMPLEXITIES AND ETHICAL ISSUES SURROUNDING NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, AND THE MODERN-DAY ENVIRONMENTAL CLEAN-UP EFFORTS AROUND THE SITE. WE CONTINUED TO ADVOCATE FOR THE 24 ACTIVE MOST ENDANGERED PLACES CAMPAIGNS AROUND THE STATE, AND ONE OF WASHINGTON'S MOST ENDANGERED PLACES, SEATTLE'S CHINATOWN-INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT, ACHIEVED NATIONAL PROMINENCE WHEN IT WAS NAMED TO THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION'S 11 MOST ENDANGERED HISTORIC PLACES LIST FOR 2023. WHILE EVENT RENTALS AND ATTENDANCE NUMBERS AT THE STIMSON-GREEN MANSION HAVE NOT FULLY REBOUNDED SINCE 2020, WE CONTINUE TO OFFER OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, INCLUDING OUR MONTHLY EDUCATIONAL TOURS, THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. WE HAVE ENABLED FELLOW NONPROFITS TO UTILIZE THE SPACE, AND THE MANSION HAS BEEN USED BY PARTNERS AND TENANTS FOR PUBLIC EVENTS INCLUDING VACCINATION CLINICS, OPEN HOUSES, AND MONTHLY COMMUNITY GRIEF GATHERINGS. IN 2023, WE COMPLETED THE ROOF AND GUTTER REPLACEMENT OF BOTH THE MANSION AND CARRIAGE HOUSE THANKS TO SUCCESSFUL FUNDRAISING EFFORTS. WE CONTINUE TO FUNDRAISE FOR SOLAR PANEL INSTALLATION AND HVAC UPGRADES, WHICH WE ANTICIPATE TAKING PLACE IN THE SPRING/SUMMER OF 2025.