About this property
Ballast Island was a small artificial island located on the Seattle Waterfront during the late 1800s. Frequent illegal dumping of ballast led to the designation of a specific region of the Seattle harbor where dumping was permitted. Emerging above the surface around 1880, it grew rapidly following additional dock developments in 1881 which largely encircled the island. It became an encampment site and refuge for Native American migrant workers from across the North Pacific coast, many of whom were employed seasonally as hop pickers. They were later joined by refugees of the city's indigenous Duwamish, following the destruction of a West Seattle village by white vigilantes.
Location
Federal Designation
The National Register of Historic Places, administered by the National Park Service, is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical, architectural, archaeological, engineering, or cultural significance. Listing on the National Register recognizes a property's importance to American history but does not place restrictions on private owners; it does, however, make properties eligible for federal historic preservation tax incentives and enables consideration in federal planning decisions. This property is recorded in the National Register under reference number 100006067. It was listed on January 27, 2021.
Categories
Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).
Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Questions about this property
When was Ballast Island listed on the National Register?
Ballast Island was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on January 27, 2021.
What type of historic resource is Ballast Island?
Ballast Island is classified as a site in the National Register of Historic Places.
What is the period of significance for Ballast Island?
The period of significance for Ballast Island is recorded as the industrial era, specifically around 1880.
Can I research the history near Ballast Island?
Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Ballast Island will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.
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An Aubrey US report for an address near Ballast Island will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.