BISMCS 343: The City as Character (Martin): Local History Websites

Seattle & Washington History (General)

HistoryLink.org
The free online encyclopedia of Washington state history. Almost all essays are written by historians, volunteers, etc. and vetted by professional staff.
Seattle Now & Then
Local history blog that includes Paul Dorpat's "Now and Then" articles published in the Seattle Times.
Seattle Neighborhood History Project
Provides a starting point for accessing historical information about Seattle neighborhoods from the Seattle Public Library's special collections and elsewhere. To start browsing, select a neighborhood using the menu on the left or the map on the right.

Researching City Parks
Extensive guide to researching City of Seattle Parks and Playfields at the Seattle Municipal Archives
Seattle Parks & Recreation History Files
Historical information about most of Seattle's parks.

Researching the History of Seattle Buildings
The Seattle Public Library guide with links to online resources, a directory of local agencies, worksheets and checklists. Download the 65-page PDF.
Tracing the History of a Home or Building (Everett)
Everett Public Library guide to building research.
Researching a home's history (Tacoma)
Tacoma Public Library guide to researching a home's history

Seattle Transit History
Seattle Department of Transit page which features links to a few online resources for learning more about the development of transit in Seattle.
WSDOT Historic Bridges
The WSDOT (Washington State Department of Transportation) Cultural Resources Program maintains an inventory of historic Washington State bridges.
520history.org
Developed in partnership between WSDOT and HistoryLink.org, 520history.org is an educational resource providing a rich range of geographical, cultural, planning and construction history of the area, from pre-1850 to the present. Includes essays, photos, and audio interviews.
SR 16 Tacoma Narrows Bridge Project- Bridge History
Information on the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, from early historical times right up to the present.
WSDOT Historical Publications
WSDOT (Washington State Department of Transportation) publications about the history of Washington state transportation. Includes titles like "Development of Washington State Highways and Transportation," available as a downloadable PDF.
WSDOT Project Index List
Index of WSDOT (Washington State Department of Transportation) Projects. A good resource for learning about more recently completed projects.