Program Director, Larry Kreisman /
Photo: Marissa Natkin
From Larry Kreisman, Program Director
Historic Seattle offers a wide range of educational programs each year to our members and the general public. We open up private homes to members; offer free to the public glimpses of both public and private significant properties at our quarterly members meetings; present outstanding lectures, in-city and out-of-town tours, “how to” demonstrations; and special events; and produce the yearly Bungalow Fair. We are able to carry out our ambitious programming because we have cultivated a wonderful and supportive group of volunteers from our membership to assist us with all facets of event planning and production.
Our Audience
Historic Seattle draws city and county residents with interests in architecture, design styles and periods, travel, neighborhoods, history, preservation, advocacy, and repair and renovation of older homes. Some programs, such as the Bungalow Fair, attract visitors from around the country and Canada. Through our website, Historic Seattle has expanded its audience and encourage heritage tourism to Seattle. On average, approximately 3,000 members and general public attend our events each year.
Our Partners
Historic Seattle has frequently partnered with other local and regional organizations, including Seattle Architecture Foundation, Friends of Seattle's Olmsted Parks, Seattle Art Museum, Town Hall Seattle, Washington Trust for Historic Preservation, Museum of History & Industry, Victoria Heritage Foundation, and other architecture and heritage organizations throughout the West.
Programs
Historic Seattle programming varies from year to year, but past events generally have fallen into the following categories:
Learning from Historic Sites and members meetings : Historic Seattle quarterly meetings are planned specifically to reach out to the geographic boundaries of city and county to broaden member’ understanding of neighborhoods and buildings which they may not know well and the challenges and successes of restoration, seismic repairs, adaptive reuse, and grass roots preservation efforts.
Preserving Utility : It’s easy to identify the most significant architectural landmarks in a city. It’s more challenging to look beyond the grit and muscle of the city’s infrastructure to see the landmarks that helped build and support the city and are there everyday doing the work.
Design Arts : Lectures by respected national and regional scholars and authors delve into every aspect of architectural form and styles, design and decorative arts, building materials, repair and stewardship. Since 1997, Historic Seattle has hosted over 70 important lectures alone and in partnership with other organizations.
Out-of-Town Tours : Historic Seattle conducts highly successful (and often sold out) out-of-town tours that explore all major cities in the West by partnering with local resource talent in architecture and preservation communities. With successful attendance, we have been able to provide financial contributions to these organizations to encourage their valuable preservation work.
Open to View : Opens historic private homes to members within the city and into King and Snohomish counties. These events provide architectural information in self-guided tours and through enthusiastic docents, and include refreshments.
Bungalow Fair : The fair brings 900 to 1,200 people to Town Hall Seattle for the fair, show and sale by over 50 antique dealers and craftspeople, architects and interior designers, and lectures by respected authors and scholars.
Landmarks Nomination Workshops : These programs in cooperation with the City’s Historic Preservation Program are directed to engage community activists in learning the process for individual landmark protection so they can take a proactive role in preserving significant buildings and objects in their neighborhoods.
Why Support Education?
Educational events are Historic Seattle’s most visible outreach to the community. They draw potential members and contributors to the organization. Historic Seattle receives no city funds and relies on its leased properties, memberships and contributions, and ticket sales to continue its mission. Events are our key development opportunities. They are the places where valuable interaction and promotion can take place and where we are best able to build organization support and cultivate advocates in our efforts to save important built heritage. They also bring the organization donors, contributors, and energetic Council and Foundation members.
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