On June 15th, American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation announced awards to eleven historic sites in the Seattle-Puget Sound area as part of their $1 million 2010 Partners in Preservation campaign. The Schooner Adventuress was announced as the winner of the popular public vote on June 13th, with Town Hall as a close second – so close, both received the top prize of $125,000 in grant money. Nine additional sites were chosen by an advisory committee to receive grants of $50,000 and above, with the remaining contestants awarded grants of $5,000 each for their projects.

The top King County award winners are:
Schooner Adventuress, Seattle and Port Townsend: $125,000 to repair natural deterioration of the Adventuress’ iconic overhanging counter stern.
Town Hall, Seattle: $125,000 to restore, clean, and seal the white terra cotta façade and restore the prominent south-facing stained-glass window.
Washington Hall, Seattle: $90,000 to install new electrical service to allow the safe operation of the theater.
Japanese Cultural & Community Center, Seattle: $75,000 to rehabilitate the Center’s primary façades, including siding, windows, and entry porticos.
Mill Creek Canyon Earthworks, Kent: $70,000 to restore the Earthworks’ sculptural landscape elements to their original design.
University Heights Community Center, Seattle: $60,000 to repair the Community Center’s deteriorated historic wood windows.
Chapel Car 5 “Messenger of Peace”, Snoqualmie: $50,000 to rehabilitate Chapel Car 5′s deteriorated structural components, replace missing windows and seating, and restore damaged interior appointments.

Additional nine sites in King County that received $5,000 each:
•    The 5th Avenue Theatre, Seattle
•    King Street Station, Seattle
•    Kirkland Arts Center, Kirkland
•    Horiuchi’s Seattle Mural, Seattle
•    Naval Reserve Armory-MOHAI, Seattle
•    Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle Building, Seattle
•    Tugboat Arthur Foss, Seattle
•    Keewaydin Clubhouse, Mercer Island
•    Theodor Jacobsen Observatory, Seattle

To learn more about all of the grant recipients visit www.preservationnation.org. Congratulations to all the sites nominated for the campaign, and thanks to everyone who voted – way to rally for preservation Puget Sound!