National Register of Historic Places listings in King County, Washington facts for kids

This map shows King County in Washington State.

King County, located in Washington State, is a place with a rich history. Many buildings, areas, and objects here are so important that they are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This special list helps protect places that tell us about the past.

Imagine a treasure map, but instead of gold, it points to old houses, schools, and even a tugboat! These aren't just old things; they are like storybooks that show us how people lived, worked, and played long ago.

There are 317 historic places in King County on this list. A big chunk of them, 224 to be exact, are in the city of Seattle. Those are on their own separate list. This article will tell you about the other 93 amazing places found outside Seattle in King County.

What is the National Register of Historic Places?

The National Register of Historic Places is like a hall of fame for important historical sites in the United States. It's managed by the National Park Service. When a place is added to this list, it means it has special meaning to American history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, or culture.

Being on the Register helps protect these places. It encourages people to preserve them for future generations. It also means that certain projects using federal money might need to consider how they affect these historic sites.

Historic Homes and Farms

Many old homes and farms in King County are on the National Register. They show us what life was like for families who settled here.

William and Estella Adair Farm

The William and Estella Adair Farm in Carnation was added to the list in 2002. It's a great example of an early 20th-century farm. Farms like this were vital for feeding the growing communities in the area.

Horatio and Laura Allen Farm

Also listed in 2002, the Horatio and Laura Allen Farm in Duvall tells another story of farming life. These farms often had many buildings, like barns and sheds, that were important for daily work.

William E. Boeing House

The William E. Boeing House in Highlands was listed in 1988. William E. Boeing was a very important person. He founded the Boeing airplane company, which became famous worldwide. His home is a reminder of his impact on aviation history.

James W. Clise House

The James W. Clise House in Redmond became historic in 1973. James Clise was a successful businessman in the early 1900s. His grand house shows the style and wealth of that time.

The James W. Clise House in Redmond.

Aaron Neely Sr., Mansion

The Neely Mansion near Auburn was listed in 1974. This beautiful mansion belonged to Aaron Neely Sr. and his family. It's a wonderful example of Victorian architecture and has been carefully preserved.

The historic Neely Mansion near Auburn.

Important Public Buildings

Public buildings like post offices, libraries, and schools also hold many stories. They were central to community life.

Auburn Post Office

The Auburn Post Office in Auburn was added to the Register in 2000. This building served the community for many years. Post offices were once the main way people communicated across distances.

The old Auburn Post Office building.

Auburn Public Library

The Auburn Public Library is another historic spot in Auburn, listed in 1982. It's a "Carnegie Library," meaning it was built with money from famous businessman Andrew Carnegie. These libraries helped bring education to many towns across America.

The former Auburn Public Library, a Carnegie Library.

Great Northern Depot (Skykomish)

The Great Northern Depot in Skykomish was listed in 1997. This old train station was a busy hub when trains were the main way to travel and transport goods. It reminds us of the golden age of railroads.

The Great Northern Depot in Skykomish.

Issaquah Depot

Another important train station is the Issaquah Depot in Issaquah, listed in 1990. It played a key role in the town's growth, especially with the coal mining industry. Today, it's a museum!

The historic Issaquah Depot.

Snoqualmie Depot

The Snoqualmie Depot in Snoqualmie was listed in 1974. It's part of the Northwest Railway Museum and is a popular spot for train enthusiasts. It shows how important railways were for connecting communities.

The Snoqualmie Depot, now part of a railway museum.

Unique Structures and Natural Wonders

King County also has some very unique historic places, from old bridges to natural waterfalls.

Arthur Foss (Tugboat)

The Arthur Foss is not a building, but a historic tugboat! Listed in 1989, this boat has a long and interesting history. It helped move ships and logs around the waters of the Pacific Northwest. It's now based in Seattle at the Northwest Seaport.

The historic tugboat Arthur Foss.

Baring Bridge

The Baring Bridge in Baring was added to the Register in 2019. This bridge crosses the South Fork of the Skykomish River. Old bridges are important examples of engineering from the past.

The Baring Bridge over the Skykomish River.

Point Robinson Light Station

The Point Robinson Light Station on Vashon Island became a historic district in 2004. Lighthouses are iconic symbols of coastal safety. This one helped guide ships through Puget Sound for many years.

The Point Robinson Lighthouse on Vashon Island.

Snoqualmie Falls

Snoqualmie Falls is a breathtaking natural waterfall in Snoqualmie. It was listed in 2009. Beyond its natural beauty, the falls have been a sacred place for local Native American tribes for thousands of years. It's also home to a historic hydroelectric power plant.

The beautiful Snoqualmie Falls.

Snoqualmie Falls Hydroelectric Power Plant Historic District

The area around Snoqualmie Falls also includes the Snoqualmie Falls Hydroelectric Power Plant Historic District, listed in 1992. This power plant, built over a century ago, uses the force of the waterfall to create electricity. It was a very advanced project for its time.

A view of the historic Snoqualmie Falls Hydroelectric Project.

Untitled Earthwork-Johnson Pit #30

This unique site in SeaTac, listed in 2021, is an artwork called the Untitled Earthwork-Johnson Pit #30. It's a large-scale land art piece created by artist Robert Morris. It shows how art can be made using the natural landscape itself.

The unique Untitled Earthwork-Johnson Pit #30.

Former Listings

Sometimes, a historic place might be removed from the National Register. This usually happens if the building is destroyed or changed so much that it loses its historic value.

Enumclaw High School

The Enumclaw High School in Enumclaw was listed in 1984 but later removed in 1988 because it was demolished. Even though it's gone, its history is still remembered.

The former Enumclaw High School building.

Images for kids

The William and Estella Adair Farm.
The Horatio and Laura Allen Farm.
The Oscar Blomeen House in Auburn.
The Bothell Pioneer Cemetery.
Camp North Bend, also known as Camp Waskowitz.
The Dr. Reuben Chase House in Bothell.
The historic Colvos Store on Vashon.
Covenant Beach Bible Camp, now Des Moines Beach Park.
The Covington Electrical Substation.
The John and Kate Dougherty Farmstead.
The Dr. Trueblood House in Kirkland.
The James G. Eddy House and Grounds in Medina.
The David and Martha Entwistles House.
The Falls City Masonic Hall.
The Faust-Ryan House in Bothell.
Gaffney's Lake Wilderness Lodge.
The Andrew and Bergette Hjertoos Farm.
Hollywood Farm in Woodinville.
The Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) Hall No. 148.
The Issaquah Sportsmen's Club.
The Jovita Land Company Model Home-Corbett House.
The Keewaydin Clubhouse on Mercer Island.
The Lilly Kirk House in Bothell.
The Peter Kirk Building in Kirkland.
The Kirkland Woman's Club.
Lakeview School on Mercer Island.
The Lester Depot (now demolished).
The Loomis House in Kirkland.
Maloney's General Store in Skykomish.
The Louis S. Marsh House in Kirkland.
The Marymoor Prehistoric Indian Site.
The Masonic Lodge Building in Kirkland.
The Masonic Temple-Auburn.
The McGrath Cafe and Hotel in North Bend.
The Messenger of Peace Chapel Car.
The Mukai Cold Process Fruit Barrelling Plant on Vashon.
The Neighbor-Bennett House in Fall City.
The Nelson–Parker House in Woodinville.
The Norman Bridge (now demolished).
The North Bend Ranger Station.
The Louis and Ellen Olson House in Enumclaw.
The Mary Olson Farm in Kent.
The Pacific Coast Company House No. 75.
The Luigi and Aurora Pagani House in Black Diamond.
The Patton Bridge in Auburn.
The Pickering Farm in Issaquah.
The Preston Community Clubhouse.
Redmond City Park, also known as Anderson Park.
The lightship RELIEF (formerly Swiftsure).
St. Edward Seminary in Kenmore.
The Erick Gustave Sanders Mansion in Kent.
The Joshua Sears Building in Kirkland.
The Seattle Municipal Light and Power Plant, also known as Cedar Falls Historic District.
The Seattle Naval Hospital Chapel in Shoreline.
The Selleck Historic District.
The Shawnee House on Vashon.
Si View Park in North Bend.
The Skykomish Historic Commercial District.
The Snoqualmie Falls Cavity Generating Station.
The Snoqualmie School Campus.
The Sorenson House in Bothell.
The Helmer and Selma Steen House on Vashon.
The Stevens Pass Historic District.
The William Harper Thorton House in Bothell.
The auto ferry TOURIST II (formerly MV Kirkland).
The Tracy House in Normandy Park.
The Trommald Building in Enumclaw.
The Tukwila School, now the Tukwila Heritage and Cultural Center.
The Vashon Hardware Store on Vashon.
The Vincent School in Carnation.
The Dr. Johan and Louise Wenberg House in Issaquah.
The Frederick W. Winters House in Bellevue.
The Woodinville School.
The F. W. Woolworth Company Store in Renton.
The Harry Vanderbilt Wurdemann House in Lake Forest Park.
The Yellowstone Road in Redmond.