Overview:

Richland’s iconic Alphabet Homes, often called ABC Homes, are among the community’s most recognizable and historic neighborhoods. Designed by Spokane architect Gustav Albin Pehrson and constructed beginning in 1943, these homes were built to house the thousands of workers and families supporting the Hanford Manhattan Project during World War II. To meet the urgent demand for housing, a variety of standardized floor plans were created and identified by letters of the alphabet, giving rise to the nickname “Alphabet Homes.” More than 1,600 of these homes were constructed during the war years, with additional designs added as Richland continued to grow. Originally government-owned and rented to residents, the homes were sold to private owners when Richland incorporated in the late 1950s. Today, Alphabet Homes remain a defining feature of Richland’s character, reflecting the city’s unique role in American history while continuing to provide housing for generations of residents.

Resources:

GIS Maps of locations

Home Blown Publication

Alphabet Homes Floor Plans

Richland Streets History

Gold Coast Historic District

 Richland’s Alphabet Houses (U.S. National Park Service)