Downtown Walla Walla National Register Historic District

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Update September 3, 2021

The Downtown Walla Walla Historic District was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 3, 2021! The district is roughly bounded by Rose Street, Palouse Street, the alley between Alder and Poplar Streets, and 3rd Avenue.

Below are some updated documents regarding the district.

Final Downtown Historic District Map:

Downtown Historic District Map

Downtown Historic District - National Register Nomination

Presentation about the District by Michael Houser, State Architectural Historian

Past Information

The City of Walla Walla received $17,000 in grant funds from the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation for fiscal year 2020 to prepare a National Register of Historic Places nomination for a Downtown Walla Walla Historic District.

The City hired Painter Preservation as the consultant to prepare the nomination and guide public education activities.

The proposed district encompasses the area between Rose Street and Alder Street, 3rd Avenue to Palouse Street. Approximately 100 properties will be included in the proposed district. Work is ongoing to determine which properties will be contributing or non-contributing to the district.

Materials from the January 23, 2020 public meeting are below.

National Register Criteria and Benefits of Listing

Draft Historic District Map

Intro and National Register Basics Slides

Federal Historic Tax Credits Slides

Complete Downtown Walla Walla National Register Historic District nomination - July 10 draft

Complete Draft Submitted to DAHP August 21, 2020

FAQ Box

How was the proposed boundary determined?

The National Register of Historic Places requires that historic districts have boundaries that are compact and contiguous, that differentiate between different development patterns (commercial vs residential), and that there be a maximum amount of contributing resources.
What does it mean for a property to be "contributing" to the district?

The building needs to have been built or had a major remodel during the period of significance (1869-1970) and have integrity (location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association) that is intact.
Why did we need a grant and a consultant for this project?

The Department of Interior has specific requirements for who is qualified to prepare nominations for the National Register of Historic Places, and no one on the City's staff meets those requirements.
Why do we need a National Register Historic District?

National Register Historic Districts increase tourism, provide economic incentives for the rehabilitation of contributing buildings, and require consideration of impacts from projects with federal funding.

More FAQs