Historic Preservation Introdcution

Historic preservation focuses on our irreplaceable treasures and provides programs and tools for protecting them. Historic resources enliven our surroundings and enrich our quality of life by maintaining a unique sense of place and helping to distinguish the unsurpassable landscapes of Washtenaw County. Our historic resources such as the neighborhood schoolhouse, iron truss bridge or farmstead speak to us across the years about how the land was used and shaped.
Enjoying a favorite viewshed such as the view of Gordon Hall from Island Lake Road is as essential a habit for our citizens as going to work or meeting with friends. The gentle rumbling and flexing of an iron bridge heard while crossing during a drive down a county road provide a wistful harmony most pleasing to the ear. And for many locals, the slightly sweet scent of hand hewn barn timbers stimulate keen memories of the past. Rehabilitating our historic resources, preserving architectural details and materials that would be costly to replicate, and recycling and adapting old buildings creates economic, environmental, psychological and social benefits.

Washtenaw County has an abundance of unique historic resources that bestow a sense of legacy. These valuable historic resources include buildings, structures, sites, objects and open space that tell the story of our past and inform future generations about our founding values. The mission of Historic Preservation is to safeguard the heritage of Washtenaw County.