City gets Preserve America title for protecting history

Spokane is an official Preserve America city, a federal designation that recognizes the community’s work at protecting its historic structures and locations.

U.S. Interior Secretary Gale Norton named Spokane as one of 24 communities to recently receive that status, which city officials had sought with an extensive lobbying effort and a formal application last year. U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris announced the city had received the designation Wednesday.

Karen Marshall of the city’s Historic Preservation office said the Preserve America designation is more than just a fancy title; it’s a requirement for some programs that make federal money available to help preserve structures and open spaces.

The city’s application included more than 20 letters from business and civic groups, the Fox Theater Preservation and the Davenport Arts District, Marshall said. It presented examples of programs that educate the community on historic preservation, from Spokane Public Schools to the Museum of Arts and Culture.

The city was recognized for having 22 National Register Historic Districts, as well as good examples of preservation that include The Davenport Hotel, the Steam Plant and the old City Hall, McMorris said.

Spokane is the largest of five cities in Washington – Dayton, Ritzville, Edmonds and Roslyn are the others – to receive the designation. Boise and Caldwell are the only two designated cities in Idaho.

The designation comes with a certificate, banners and a road sign that recognizes Spokane as a Preserve America city. Marshall said city officials haven’t yet decided where to put the road sign but will hold an event to mark the designation “in the very near future.”