Road Trip! OVER LAND AND SEA THROUGH
WA S H I N GTO n M A R i t I m E H E R I TAG E By Jonathan Schewe
Most of us Pacific Northwest maritime heritage enthusiasts have at least a passing familiarity with mainstays like Seattle’s Center for Wooden Boats, Port Townsend’s Northwest Maritime Center, Tacoma’s Foss Waterway Seaport, or Astoria’s Columbia River Maritime Museum. But if you’ve ever been to Poulsbo, spent a weekend at Long Beach and passed through Raymond on your way, or enjoyed a salmon charter out of Westport, you may have wondered about the forces that shaped those communities. Local maritime museums can help crack the code. More than merely scaleddown versions of the larger, well-known installations, these local venues focus on intriguing details that local knowledge brings to life. It’s not unusual to encounter staff that are third or even fourth generation descendants of the entrepreneurial settlers who pioneered local nautical enterprise. Also, where the larger collections are often funded by public grants, private endowments, or corporate sponsors, these local exhibits more often than not eke out an existence from small donations and volunteer efforts. These one-of-a-kind treasures need our support to remain viable. So the next time you’re ready for a road trip – by land or sea – block out some time for a visit. You’ll meet enthusiastic guides with the depth of knowledge to satisfy your curiosity about that cluster of rotted pilings, that gracefully ageing netshed, or that exquisitely restored classic workboat or yacht. You just might make a few new friends in the bargain.
M
“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.” - Marcel Proust This showcase of local sites and distinct personalities all, range from the sleek staging of the Gig Harbor History Museum to the understated presentation at Dockton, from the lovingly assembled collections at Poulsbo, Ilwaco, and Westport to the eye-opening visual riot at Willapa Seaport. Visits will go a long way to satisfy the curiosity of anyone who has wondered about the personalities, events, and industries that shaped the Northwest maritime heritage.
72 NORTHWEST YACHTING // AUGUST 2016