National Historic District Nomination
On December 29, 2014, the National Park Service listed the Downtown Bellingham Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places. Click here to see the full nomination (PDF 11,278 KB)
Listing in the National Register is an honorary designation and imposes no additional requirements or regulations on properties; however, State and local City codes and regulations still apply). Benefits of National Historic District designation include:
- National recognition of Bellingham’s historic downtown
- Downtown’s historic identity can be highlighted as part of Bellingham’s heritage tourism strategy
- Potential I-5 signage directing travelers to the Downtown Historic District
- Eligibility for state and federal grant programs
- Potential eligibility for Federal Historic Tax Credits.
Click here to view a video of the September 2014 meeting of the Bellingham Historic Preservation Commission. Guest presenters Michael Sullivan, preservation consultant of Artifacts Consulting, and Michael Houser, Washington State Architectural Historian discuss the history and significance of downtown; as well as, the benefits of being designated a National Historic District.
Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)
Staff Contact: Katie Franks (360) 778-8388 or kfranks@cob.org
