About

The Sammamish Heritage Society is committed to helping residents and visitors learn and understand our rich past. Our mission is to “discover, document and preserve the history of Sammamish” and we do that in several ways: we collect artifacts and oral histories, host lectures, provide interactive experiences and connect people with history.

The Sammamish Heritage Society is a non-profit (501c3) organization, established in 1999 to preserve the history, heritage, and integrity of Sammamish, Washington. The Society was started with the idea to help residents and visitors to our city learn and understand about the diverse history of Sammamish.

The inaugural meeting of the Sammamish Heritage Society was held in April 1999 at the Paula Lillevand Cottage in the Beaver Lake Colony. At the first Sammamish Neighbor Day celebration in May 1999, the group presented a photographic display of the area’s history.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Reard House with porch (1) We are restoring the historic Reard Freed House, a 19th century farm house, to engage the community in local history and allow a glimpse into the past through exhibits and displays.

In 2015, Sammamish Heritage Society was given a grant by 4Culture to do an intensive survey of historic properties built between 1888 and 1941 in Sammamish. The purpose was to provide information for the City of Sammamish, King County Historic Preservation Program, the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, property owners and other interested parties, to make informed decisions about the treatment of significant historic properties. Volunteers conduced site visits, filled out field forms, interviewed residents, photographed and did historic research on all 155 properties. Results of survey can be found below, along with the website database WISAARD.

Historic Inventory Map List of historic homes: Appendix A&B

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The Sammamish Heritage Society would like to express their appreciation and recognize the following organizations, businesses and individuals for their contributions.

4Culture

The City of Sammamish

Doug Anderson

Jack Barker

Lou Tanska Bischoff

Phil Doherty

Ruby Eddy

Eric Erickson

Dirk Forbes

Rose Harig

Tom Hitzroth

Chris Klineburger