 After initial work by the Ballard Avenue Association and the city of Seattle's Urban Conservation Division, Seattle mayor Wes Uhlman signed the ordinances that led to the national recognition of the area.The neighborhood of Ballard is known for a large historic population and presence of immigrants from Sweden, and King Gustaf of Sweden read the proclamation inducting the district to the historical registry in 1976, and at the same time dedicated the new bell tower at Ballard's Marvin's Garden Park, which housed the original bell from Ballard's old city hall.The historic markers that can be seen on 26 of the buildings were created and erected by the Ballard Historical Society.