The Port Townsend Historic District is an area within Port Townsend, Washington

Port Townsend, Washington

Port Townsend is a city in Jefferson County, Washington, United States, approximately north-northwest of Seattle . The population was 9,113 at the 2010 census an increase of 9.3% over the 2000 census. It is the county seat and only incorporated city of Jefferson County...

 listed on the National Register of Historic Places

National Register of Historic Places

The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...

 as a historic district

Historic district (United States)

In the United States, a historic district is a group of buildings, properties, or sites that have been designated by one of several entities on different levels as historically or architecturally significant. Buildings, structures, objects and sites within a historic district are normally divided...

. It was listed on the National Register in 1976, and further was declared a National Historic Landmark

National Historic Landmark

A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...

 in 1977. It includes three separately listed Registered Historic Places: the Capt. Enoch S. Fowler House

Capt. Enoch S. Fowler House

The Capt. Enoch S. Fowler House is a house in Port Townsend, Washington. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. It is included in Port Townsend Historic District which was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1977....

, the Rothschild House

Rothschild House (Port Townsend, Washington)

The Rothschild House is a house in Port Townsend, Washington. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. It is included in Port Townsend Historic District which was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1977....

, and St. Paul's Episcopal Church

St. Paul's Episcopal Church (Port Townsend, Washington)

The St. Paul's Episcopal Church is a Gothic Revival church in Port Townsend, Washington. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. It is included in Port Townsend Historic District which was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1977.-References:...

.

Because of the speed at which the economy of Port Townsend fell in the 1890s and the non-existence of any industry or economy to replace it, very few of the Victorian buildings were torn down or built over. They were, in essence, preserved as time capsules for the next 100 years when the value of keeping them intact was appreciated and fostered.