Port Townsend
Of its many proud distinctions, Port Townsend and Fort Worden State Park (located within the city) are designated National Landmarks, and Port Townsend's waterfront district and the residential district on the bluff are a designated National Historic District.
A central landmark of Port Townsend is the 100-foot clock tower of the red brick Jefferson County Courthouse. It can be seen for miles and is a homing landmark for sailors entering Puget Sound. This building, built in 1892, is one of the two oldest county courthouses in Washington State. Atop the bluff, Port Townsend's historic residential district has some of the most lovely and ornate Victorian homes while below the bluff is Port Townsend's historic downtown district complete with 19th century brick business blocks.
Port Townsend is perfect for a walking tour. Maps for self-guided tours are available at the Visitor's Information Center on E. Sims Way, the main road leading to Port Townsend's historic downtown, waterfront and ferry terminal. Throughout the neighborhoods on the bluffs we found seagull figures painted on the roadways, which we assumed are markers for guiding you on your tour. Note that the vast majority of Port Townsend's historic homes are private residences and are not open to the public for tours. Please respect the privacy of the residents while you enjoy your tour of the historic district. Most of the homes have plaques near the sidewalk indicating the year of construction and the name of the original inhabitants. Several of these ornate Victorian homes are now charming B&Bs.
The weather in Port Townsend is temperate year around. Lying in the "rain shadow" of the Olympic mountains, PT's average annual rainfall is only 17". Summer temperatures usually fall in the 50s and 60s. Winter temperatures usually remain somewhere in the 40s (Fahrenheit).
More than just another pretty town
History is a big part of Port Townsend. Fort Worden State Park has maintained its original state when it was a defender of the Puget Sound (along with Fort Casey on Whidbey Island and Fort Flagler, just south of town). Established in 1902 to prevent seafaring invaders from reaching the Puget Sound, today it is open to the public with access to its bunkers, turrets, barracks, casements, and officers' and enlisted men's quarters. Fort Worden is also an increasingly popular location for retreats and conferences.
Also within city limits is beautiful Kah Tai Lagoon Park, a designated nature reserve. And the town is host to over 40 special events year around, including clam bakes, parades, music festivals, rhododendron celebrations (the state flower), a wild salmon festival, a kinetic sculpture race, and the Jefferson County Fair.
Note that Port Townsend is a small community with very limited parking downtown. Locals advise that you leave your car at the Haines Place Park N Ride lot and use the Jefferson Transit buses to get around Port Townsend and Fort Worden State Park. Port Townsend is conveniently compact, and many of its historic treasures, landmarks, shops, parks, and Victorian homes are all located within comfortable walking distance. The Haines Place Park N Ride lot is located on (surprise!) Haines Place. Take a left on Haines Place off of E. Sims Way (the main road leading to Water Street and Port Townsend's historic downtown and waterfront) and drive 1 block.
As rich in history as in scenery
Seafaring was a major industry for Port Townsend, including boat building (an industry that continues in Port Townsend today). As with other seafaring cities of its day, Port Townsend has its bawdy history of saloons, brothels, gambling and criminal types. It was during this period that a small "uptown" mercantile district developed up on the bluff to serve the more genteel residents of Port Townsend , while "downtown" below the bluff was left to those who lived on the wild side.
Like many settlements, Port Townsend's founders set out to make Port Townsend a major railroad terminus. Unlike many fledging 19th century towns with the same dreams, Port Townsend built itself on the actual promise of a railroad (rather than just a hope). But Port Townsend's railroad connection never materialized, and the town remained quite small and undeveloped. However, before this disappointment, the population of Port Townsend doubled and most of the spectacular historic homes and businesses were built during this period.
As Port Townsend's dreams of becoming a major U.S. city to rival those of the east coast faded, the town was revitalized somewhat by the establishment of Fort Worden in 1902. Its purpose was to protect Puget Sound from seafaring marauders.
Today, Port Townsend is home to a large pulp mill, established on the waterfront in 1927, has an international reputation for fine boat building, particularly wooden sailing vessels and yachts, and is an increasingly popular Pacific Northwest destination.
Getting here
From the Seattle area and points east, the recommended route is to go to the Colman docks on the Seattle waterfront and take the Seattle-Bainbridge ferry (crossing time: 35 minutes). You'll arrive at Bainbridge Island (previously Winslow). Drive off the ferry and proceed north on Highway 305 to Poulsbo (13 miles). Drive north through Poulsbo to Highway 3 north (follow signs to Hood Canal Bridge, 9 miles). Cross Hood Canal Bridge. There are three routes you can take from Highway 3. Highway 19 and the following exit both go through Chimacum. These are relatively slow routes passing through small communities. If you prefer to see less of the small towns, proceed northeast on Highway 3 to Highway 101 (follow signs to Sequim/Port Angeles). Take Highway 20 north to Port Townsend (14 miles). Total mileage from Seattle (not including ferry): about 60 miles.
From Olympia and points south, take I-5 north to Highway 101/12 (to Aberdeen and Shelton). At Shelton, take Highway 101 to Highway 20. Port Townsend is 14 miles from the Highway 20 exit. From Tacoma, take the Tacoma Narrows Bridge toward Bremerton. Take Highway 3 and follow signs to Hood Canal Bridge. Once across the bridge there are three routes you can take from Highway 3. Highway 19 and the following exit both go through Chimacum. These are relatively slow routes passing through small communities. If you prefer to see less of the small towns, proceed northeast on Highway 3 to Highway 101 (follow signs to Sequim/Port Angeles). Take Highway 20 north to Port Townsend (14 miles).
From Vancouver B.C. and points north, take I-5 south to Exit 230 at Burlington (about 45 miles south of the border). Follow Highway 20 east toward Anacortes. After passing the Swinomish Reservation, turn south toward Deception Pass. Continue following Highway 20 to Keystone (follow signs to the Keystone-Port Townsend ferry). This ferry leaves Keystone generally every hour and half in the winter and every 45 minutes in the summer. The crossing takes 30 minutes. It is a small ferry, and long lines are very common in the summer. Warning to the potentially seasick, this ferry usually has a gentle rocking motion throughout the crossing, which some people may find a bit unsettling.
Other ferry routes along I-5 include Edmonds (20 miles north of Seattle) to Kingston, and Mukilteo (about 30 miles north of Seattle) to Clinton. The Edmonds-Kingston ferry is a 30 minute crossing. The ferry runs generally every 40 minutes. Once in Kingston, follow Highway 104 west and follow signs to Hood Canal Bridge. The other route, from Mukilteo to Clinton, is a 20-minute crossing. Clinton is at the south end of Whidbey Island. At Clinton, follow Highway 525 to Keystone and take the Keystone-Port Townsend ferry. This ferry leaves Keystone generally every hour and half in the winter and every 45 minutes in the summer. The crossing takes 30 minutes. It is a small ferry, and long lines are very common in the summer. Warning to the potentially seasick, this ferry usually has a gentle rocking motion throughout the crossing that some people may find a bit unsettling.
For more information about the Washington State Ferries schedules, routes, fares, cargo restrictions, closures, etc., check out their website at www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries.
From Port Angeles and points west, follow Highway 101 to Highway 20 east. Port Townsend is 14 miles from the turn off to Highway 20.
Olympic Peninsula Region of Washington State
Port Townsend is located on the northeastern most tip of Washington's Olympic Peninsula. It is surrounded by beautiful Discovery Bay, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Admiralty Inlet and the Puget Sound (pronounced "PYOO-jit"). The land immediately to the south of Port Townsend is densely forested with evergreen and madrona. Most of Port Townsend stands on a bluff overlooking the Puget Sound and offering commanding views of the majestic and rugged Olympic Mountains to the south and the equally spectacular snowcapped peaks of the Cascades to the east, extending from Mount Baker near the Canada-U.S. border to Mount Rainier south of Seattle. Port Townsend is a seafaring town, with a colorful history that is on proud display. It is one of only three Victorian seaports on the National Register. It is also a small community that has become popular with travelers who are looking for some rest and relaxation in beautiful (awesome, actually) surroundings.
Port Townsend is understandably famous for its spectacular scenery and historic homes and buildings, but it's also a great place to enjoy yourself in a variety of activities. Port Townsend residents delight in many outdoor recreations, including bicycling (the gentle hills and sparse traffic make PT a wonderful place for cycling), sea kayaking, sailing, excursion boating, wildlife cruises, bird watching, camping, clam digging, beachcombing, exploring, hiking, golfing. For indoor enthusiasts, downtown Port Townsend has antique shops and boutiques, galleries, fine restaurants, quaint coffee shops, and a combination live and movie theater. Be assured, Port Townsend is proud of its small town atmosphere and "character". When we asked for the location a particularly popular Northwest coffee outlet, we were quite clearly informed that PT has so far managed to do quite well thank you without encroaching chain stores, and they hope to continue this way for a long time to come.
Port Townsend was "discovered" by Captain George Vancouver during his travels through the Puget Sound area in 1792 on his sailing ship, the HMS Discovery. He named this "very safe and capacious harbor" after his friend, the Marquis de Townshend. Sixty years later, Port Townsend became the second city established on the Puget Sound (after Olympia, and six months before Seattle). Farming, logging and seafaring were the town's commercial livelihood. Around 1854, the U.S. government made Port Townsend a customs district for Puget Sound.
There are several ways to get to Port Townsend, depending upon the direction from which you are coming. If you have access to a map, you'll see that Port Townsend is located on the northeast tip of Quimper Peninsula, between Discovery Bay, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Admiralty Inlet and the Puget Sound.
The Leisure Source created by Crimson Design.
Copyright © 2002. All rights reserved.