I miss you Sam!!

I miss you Sam!!
I miss you Sam!!

Monday, March 30, 2009

That's My World -- Port Townsend


Welcome again to That's My World, a wonderful meme beautifully hosted by Klaus, Sandy, Ivar, Wren, Fishing Guy and Louise. Click here to sign up and join us for the fun and share Your World with us!

I have been planning on writing about Port Townsend for sometime as another lovely and fascinating place to visit in "my world", then I discovered a wonderful blog site, hosted by Raf and it is so worth a visit! But I'm going to go ahead and give you some of the history and a few shots, courtesy of the internet and then if you really want to see Port Townsend as it is today, do visit Raf's blog.

Port Townsend is a city in Jefferson County, Washington, United States, approximately 40 miles (64 km) north-northwest of Seattle. The population was 8,334 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat and only incorporated city of Jefferson County. In addition to its natural scenery at the northeast tip of the Olympic Peninsula, the city is also known for the many Victorian buildings remaining from its late 19th-century heyday, numerous annual cultural events, and as a maritime center for independent boat builders and related industries and crafts. The Port Townsend Historic District is a U.S. National Historic Landmark District.

The bay was originally named "Port Townshend" by Captain George Vancouver (for his friend the Marquis of Townshend) in 1792, Port Townsend was immediately recognized as a good, safe harbor although strong south winds and poor holding ground often make small craft anchorage problematic off the town's waterfront. The bay is now home to Naval Magazine Indian Island, the US Navy's primary munitions handling dock on the Pacific coast.

The official settlement of the city of the same name took place on the 24th of April, 1851. American Indian tribes located in what is now Jefferson County in the mid-19th century included the Chemakum (or Chimacum), Hoh (a group of the Quileute), Klallam (or Clallam), Quinault and Twana (the Kilcid band — Anglicized: Quilcene).

Port Townsend is also called the "City of Dreams" because of the early speculation that the city would be the largest harbor on the west coast of the United States.
By the late 1800s, Port Townsend was a well-known seaport, very active and banking on the future. Many homes and buildings were built during that time, with most of the architecture ornate Victorian. During this period, in 1888, the Port Townsend Police Department was established.



The Port Townsend Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976, and further was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1977. It includes three separately listed Registered Historic Places: the Capt. Enoch S. Fowler House, the Rothschild House, and the St. Paul's Episcopal Church.

Over the decades that followed, Port Townsend maintained its economic stability in a variety of ways, including the development of artillery fortifications at Fort Worden. Currently, it is most famous economically for the jazz workshop that is held there every summer. As part of the workshop, famous jazz musicians play all week in the Port Townsend clubs and bars, drawing many tourists to the area.

Friends of mine from Portland attended the Wooden Boat Festival a few years ago and sent me some gorgeous photos and this is one of them.

The 33rd Annual Wooden Boat Festival will be September 11-13, 2009. It's worth the visit.

The premiere wooden boat gathering in North America, Port Townsend's Wooden Boat Festival is also the most educational and beautifully located wooden boat event in the world. Featuring 200 wooden vessels, a who's who of wooden boat experts and thousands of wooden boat enthusiasts, there's something to do, someone to meet or a boat to board at every turn. Expanded a little each year, the festival honors its traditions while inviting energetic debate about the latest innovation.

55 comments:

imac said...

Interesting blog and great pics.

Thanks for your visit and kind comments.

Great Grandma Lin said...

I've been there but it's worth another visit. thanks for some interesting info...

Anonymous said...

What a lovely lovely town that is. Worth visiting.

Carver said...

This was a fascinating post and great shots of a beautiful place.

Janie said...

Beautiful photos and great information on the city. I love that wooden boat. Would be fun to see the Wooden boat festival if they're all such elaborate vessels.

ninja said...

Looks so peaceful.

kayleen said...

Neat and informative post.

Nebraska Birding

Grammy said...

I love the photos ! The ship and ocean are amazing. Thanks for taking the time to write about the history too.

Anonymous said...

Hi Sylvia,

I like Port Townsend a lot. It feels like a little university town with out the university.
I used to live in nearby Sequim in the later part of the 90's.

Deborah Godin said...

What fun those early guys must have had, naming things after themselves and all their pals! I love love to name a place - I think Sylvia Harbor would be a nice friendly place to tie up your boat!

underOvr (aka The U) said...

Hi Sylvia,

I love these pics and your narrative is so informative.

It helps my day when I get to enjoy the beauty of life.

Thanks for helping me today!

U

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Sylvia: What a neat show of all the neat places of Port Townsend. It looks like a wonderful harbor.

SandyCarlson said...

Your town is positively gorgeous.

Susan at Stony River said...

Wow, Sylvia, I feel I've been on a tour: such a post! It sounds like a lovely place to visit and stay a while, and now I'm surprised that I don't remember ever hearing about it all apart from the name. Thanks!

Anonymous said...

This was a real, interesting MyWorld post, thank you ! Photos are excellent too!

Louise said...

Very nice post! I love this place. (Haven't been, but love it from the post.) Further appeal is its small size and the only incorporated town around. Love it!

Unknown said...

Wow, these are magnificent set of photos, i like most the 3rd to the last. So peaceful and I love the grey sky.

ViennaDaily said...

Oh beautiful shots! I love the one with the house by the bay!

Tarolino said...

A very in depth and interesting report with some beautiful pictures. That sailing ship was indeed a beauty and it must be a great atmosphere over there during the festival.

Sujatha Bagal said...

OK, makes me want to go there right now! :)

Mojo said...

Wow! Those are some spectacular views. I think the first and last ones are my personal faves though. Both of them could be postcards.

Any idea what the signal flags say? (Probably something like "We just washed these and needed to dry them" huh?)

Lovely place. I'd love to visit there one day.

robin andrea said...

Nice to see our old hometown here! We lived in Port Townsend from 2004 to 2008. A truly beautiful place.

Guy D said...

Awesome photos as always Sylvia, your blog never disappoints.

Have a great week!
Guy
Regina In Pictures

Martha Z said...

Good info on Port Townsend. I read several of your posts and enjoyed them all. I think my Lebanese daughter-in-law would enjoy all your quotes from Gilbran.

Carolyn said...

Sylvia, thank you so much for the history or Port Townsend. I have several friends on Haida Gwaii who are from there and have extended invites to visit when they go back for visits. I will have to make a point of accepting their invitation! Your photos are lovely. Thank you for sharing.
Smiles

Anonymous said...

Again some interesting info on what looks like a super place to add to my list of places to visit. Thanks.

Jane Hards Photography said...

Oh this a beautiful post. Coincidence again but I am a regular visitor to Raf's. It was my introduction to the area I have come to love virtually. Really enjoyed this post adds some more background and those images are gorgeous.

Judy said...

Beautiful photos. I would love to visit this place someday. Thanks for the info.

Lilly said...

That was really interesting Sylvia. It looks a charming place. anywhere with water is great by me. One day maybe I will get to visit.

Lavender and Vanilla Friends of the Gardens said...

A delightful city, just the right size and also a fascinating area. Thank you for all the information.

Arija said...

Sylvia, this is a wonderful post! I love the historical information and your beautiful pictures for illustration. It sounds like just the size and style of town I woul have loved to retire to and live in an old victorian mansion.

Bagman and Butler said...

Oh boy, another blog that makes me want to go somewhere! Good words, good information, great pictures...I want to go. I think blogspot ought to be sponsored by airline companies.

Unknown said...

Beautiful photos of a beautiful place. Thanks for sharing your world, Sylvia!

I posted for the first time to this meme this week.

Peggy said...

Gorgeous pictures...I've never been to Washinton State. Wanted to go visit before but after reading more about it, I really want to go!

MariTes said...

looks like a pretty place to get to. The pic with a house by the water is quite pretty.

Ebie said...

Very beautiful set of photos. I love the beach and the boats.

raf said...

Beautiful post about PT, Sylvia! Great job of covering the history too. And thanks for adding my link.
Port Townsend is a great retreat anytime, but the Wooden Boat Festival in September is a unique festival for all - young and old as well as boat lovers and landlubbers. It just gets bigger and better each year. Art, music, dance, culinary delights and hundreds of wooden boats of all kinds and sizes draws thousands of folks from near and far. Not to be missed!

chrome3d said...

I enjoyed the nautical feel of your town. Small lighthouses are always so fun to me.

antigoni said...

What a beautiful place! Thanks for sharing its history.

Reader Wil said...

Very interesting,Sylvia! A piece of history that I didn't know. Have a nice day!

shaker said...

Great post !

magiceye said...

seems to be a lovely place!

Indrani said...

Beautifully told with pictures. The ship held my gaze for a long time, it is very colorfully decorated.

Jenn said...

I love towns by the water and that is a lovely house on the hill overlooking the water. Thanks for the history.

maryt/theteach said...

Boy, Sylvia, I envy you your world. Just take a look at MY WORLD for this week! :)

Lakshmi said...

Wonderful pics..your narration took me to the city of dreams..

abb said...

I've spent no time in our country's Northwest. Someday I hope to change that! Thanks for your visit! Love your masthead and the quote there - and your tribute to our President on your sidebar.

George said...

Thanks for a very interesting post about Port Townsend. And thanks, too, for the beautiful pictures. I would certainly like to see the Wooden Boat Festival.

Erin said...

beautiful photos and very interesting commentary. i have enoyed a visit there years ago and enjoyed it very much.
have a wonderful evening

Elisabeth's bright side said...

Wow, I admire your writing and of course it's educative and interesting. Thank you!

Carrie and Troy Keiser said...

Thanks for the history of Port Townsend.
Thanks for stopping by my corner of this world.

Unknown said...

Great post Sylvia, this looks like a wonderful place to visit.

Esther Garvi said...

Sweet!

Clara said...

What a great My World post. I love the pictures and the short history lesson. Port Townsend is one of the places we've talked about visiting. It's definitely going on the list!

Anonymous said...

Awesome pics Sylvia~

What Can I Say?

What Can I Say?
I'm interested in almost everything. Use to like to travel, but it's too expensive now. I take Tai Chi classes, swim, volunteer in a Jump-start program for pre-schoolers. I'm an avid reader and like nearly everyone these days I follow politics avidly. I'm a former teacher and Special Projects Coordinator for a Telecommunications company, Assistant to the President of a Japanese silicon wafer manufacturing company. Am now enjoying retirement -- most of the time. I have two daughters, one son-in-law and two sons scattered all over the country. No grandchildren.

Portland Time