2009 Scenic Byway Award Winner - Interpretation

Revisiting Washington CD and Website
Byways: Chinook Scenic Byway, Stevens Pass Greenway, International Selkirk Loop, Coulee Corridor, 
Whidbey Scenic Isleway, Chuckanut Drive Scenic Byway, San Juan Islands Scenic Byway, Mt. Baker Scenic Byway, 
North Cascades Scenic Byway, Okanogan Scenic Byway, North Pend Oreille Scenic Byway, Lewis and Clark 
Scenic Byway, White Pass Scenic Byway, Pacific Coast Scenic Byway
State: 	Washington

Tapping The Past’s Stories With Today’s Technology
The Washington Trust for Historic Preservation led the Revisiting Washington project, producing an 
interactive, multi-media travel guide that updates the State’s classic 1941 Works Progress Administration (WPA) 
guidebook, “Washington: A Guide to the Evergreen State.” The “green guides” themselves are artifacts 
from the nation’s Great Depression and Federal New Deal history.

When the 1941 WPA Driving Guide map was overlaid with the current map of twenty-two Washington scenic 
byways, fourteen of the State’s routes matched. The project retraced Washington’s guidebook journey 
with a modern wanderer’s tools, including a handheld GPS unit and other digital technology, such as 
Flash programming and PDFs. Researchers gathered information in the field and invited community involvement 
through their queries. The final product featured an interactive website (www.revisitingwashington.org) and 
complimentary CDs that promoted heritage tourism and highlighted historic resources along the byways.

The State’s entire scenic byway program benefited from the project. The visual presentation echoes the 
historic narrative text and welcomes all generations of travelers. History comes alive through the fun and 
captivating presentation. Not surprisingly, the product has enjoyed great public appeal.