I once heard someone describe the Puget Sound Regional Archives in Bellevue as “Google Street View, circa 1910”. While that may be a bit of a stretch you can discover pre-1930 pictures of homes and buildings through their archives.
Puget Sound Regional Archives provides a free and user-friendly service to assist you with your research of property in the Puget Sound area. Original records of the property – outlining details such as dimensions, materials, ownership and other relevant characteristics – can also be recovered. You can uncover images from your home’s historic past in a few easy steps:
Information Needed to Get Started:
1. Property address
2. Tax parcel number or a brief legal description (lot/block)
3. Your name and contact information
Then it’s time to submit a request. With the previously gathered information, choose your method of contact.
Phone: 425.564.3940
Fax: 425.564.3945
E-mail: PSBranchArchives@sos.wa.gov
Address: Puget Sound Regional Archives; 3000 Landerholm Circle SE MS-N100; Bellevue
An archivist will then pull your records and notify you what information is available for your property. You can also visit the center. Check their website for hours of operation at:http://www.sos.wa.gov/archives/archives_puget.aspx
Note, there is a nominal fee for pulling the records requested. Black and white photos can be ordered in a wide range of sizes, including 5×7 for $17 and 16×20 for $55. Original Records can be purchased for 25 cents per page.
If you have an interesting “Then & Now” photo set of your home, please share with us by posting on this page. I would love to find out what you have learned about your home.
Vintage West Woodland - Seattle 