WASHINGTON TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMENTS

"Good afternoon Mayor Jones and members of the Council. Thank you for the opportunity to say a few words today. My name is Jennifer Meisner and I am Executive Director of the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation. We are Washington’s statewide, non-profit historic preservation advocacy organization founded in 1976 to promote the preservation and revitalization of our state’s extraordinary historic places, like Friday Harbor.

I’d like to congratulate the Town of Friday Harbor on the well deserved honor of being named to the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s 2008 List of America’s Dozen Distinctive Destinations. Your commitment to protecting Friday Harbor’s unique scenic and historic character and your ongoing work to create a vital, active downtown have earned you this worthy designation.

I’d also like to thank the National Trust for Historic Preservation for recognizing Friday Harbor’s well preserved history and unparallyed scenic and architectural beauty. The National Trust’s Dozen Distinctive Destinations program really spotlights attention on lovingly preserved, vibrant towns that are rich in history, like Friday Harbor. This program recognizes that special places like Friday Harbor authentically tell the stories of our past and truly are wonderful places to visit.

I’m sure you are aware that heritage tourism really is a booming industry. Tens of thousand of heritage travelers come to Washington each year, generating a considerable amount of economic activity for local communities and the state. But what you may not know is that a recent study conducted by the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation entitled the Economic Benefits of Historic Preservation showed that in 2004:

heritage tourists spent an estimated 8.7 million visitor days in Washington State,

Each tourist spent an average of $72.40 per day, and

This resulted in total average spending statewide of about $630 million.

In Friday Harbor, you’ve done an amazing job of preserving your town’s unique sense of place, which makes it an inviting and appealing heritage tourism destination, and I’ve no doubt, a fabulous place to live!.

I wanted to close my remarks by noting that the Washington Trust recently completed a two-year project that was funded by a Federal Transportation Enhancement grant with additional support from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, State Parks, and the State Office of Tourism. This project created an interactive, multi-media travel guide for the state of Washington that updates our state’s classic 1941 guidebook, Washington: A Guide to the Evergreen State. The goals of this project were to promote historic preservation and heritage tourism by getting people out of the arm chair and out onto the open road to explore the amazing scenic and historic wonders found in every corner of our state.

And of course, Friday Harbor is a featured destination in our guide. Please feel free to pick up a free copy of the CD and go straight to the Island Tours section where you’ll find historic and up-to-date photos and information about Friday Harbor.

Thank you again for the opportunity congratulate you on this wonderful, well earned achievement."

For more information contact:  Sandy Strehlou, Historic Preservation Coordinator, 360.378-2810