Historic Preservation
Washington's Historic District "Guidelines for Property Owners"
Part 1: Historic Washington
Washington's rich history adds to
the character of the community. The City was founded in 1776 - the
same year of our nation's independence. It was the first town in
America to have been named for George Washington. Because of Washington's
strategic location at the junction of coastal and inland rivers,
the town developed as a regional shipping center. Washington also
was a federal supply outpost during the Revolutionary War.
Washington has rebuilt after devastating
fires destroyed all but a few of the City's antebellum structures.
The construction that followed the second major fire in 1900 (the
first burning was during the War Between the States) produced a
concentration of Victorian era homes and commercial buildings in
the area now designated as the Washington
Historic District. Composed of the waterfront business district
and surrounding neighborhoods, the Historic
District also boasts fine examples of revival, colonial, Greek,
federal, traditional cottages, and other architectural styles.
Washington's
Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic
Places and is one of the largest commercial and residential historic
districts in North Carolina. It is a source of pride for the community,
and the City of Washington is committed to preserving the character
of this area.
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