We’re thrilled to announce that 2026 marks the 50th anniversary of the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation! As Washington’s only statewide historic preservation advocacy organization, we have certainly evolved—from an all-volunteer organization for the first 25 years of our existence to a dynamic staff of 13 today. We’re proud to celebrate our golden anniversary this year with a renewed commitment to the fight to save our state’s historic and cultural places.

Upcoming Anniversary Events

Here is a preview of some of the exciting anniversary activities we look forward to sharing with you in the coming months:

  • New educational webinars on preservation-related topics including place-based advocacy, seismic rehabilitation, tax credit incentives, preservation easements, and more
  • Our popular year-round events, including the Goldfinch Gala (May), PLACES Conference (October), and Sivinski Holiday Benefit (December)—back and better than ever!
  • The return of our Thursdays at the Stimson-Green Mansion event series, including trivia competitions, concerts, speakers, silent reading nights, dance lessons, and more
  • Special new mansion events including a winemakers’ dinner, Stimson-Green birthday party (she turns 125 this year!), and murder mystery night

Our History

In 1975, on the eve of the nation’s bicentennial celebration, the American historic preservation movement was spreading west. A group of Washingtonians, aware of the importance of saving historic places throughout the state, met at Fort Worden in Port Townsend to discuss how to cooperate in that effort. Thus was the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation born.

These founding volunteers incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, recruited likeminded preservationists, held board meetings, established a membership program, began presenting conferences and workshops, testified in legislative hearings, published a newsletter, held fundraisers, and offered technical assistance, via typed and mailed communications, slideshows, carpooling around the state, and telephone calls (and long-distance calls cost money in those days).

For the next few decades, the organization was largely volunteer-driven and operated out of borrowed office space (though a paid administrative coordinator was hired in the late 1970s and a grant-funded intern came on board in 1980). However, the need for professional staff for greater effectiveness and impact was recognized and resulted in a successful application in the early 1980s for National Trust for Historic Preservation matching funding to pay the first executive director. Staffing varied over the years, but the dedicated, active, and knowledgeable board of directors kept the vision going.

The organization’s capacity soared in 2001, when Seattle philanthropist and community leader Patsy Bullitt Collins gifted her grandparents’ home, the Stimson-Green Mansion, to the Washington Trust. This change-making gift enabled the Washington Trust to increase the number of professional staff, have a stable office location, and operate one of Seattle’s great architectural landmarks as an educational space and special events venue.

Today, the Washington Trust comprises 13 staff members and 25 board members from across the state working to save historic and cultural sites. As an organization, we seek to partner with communities to preserve, share, and shape the future of historic places in Washington State and to include more people than ever in the important work of historic preservation. (Check out our 2025-2027 strategic plan here.)

Support Us Into Our Next 50 Years

The Washington Trust has lasted and grown throughout the last five decades thanks to the generous support of its members, donors, sponsors, and funders. Want to help us grow into the next 50 years? Make a donation or become a member today.