Washington is filled with historic places that provide us with a window into our past, from exquisite neoclassical buildings that house museums and the three branches of government to an ancient piece of parchment that traversed across the nation during its early years before eventually succumbing to damage over time.
Historic places can be designated at both a national and state level and may qualify for tax credits to support restoration efforts.
Fort Worden
Fort Worden Historical State Park brings history to life with hidden gun emplacements and sprawling parade lawns that showcase its past. Additionally, picnicking or taking in views of Admiralty Inlet and Port Townsend are popular activities at this park – keen visitors may even recognize its setting from 1982 movie An Officer and a Gentleman!
Fort Worden was constructed to protect the entrance to Puget Sound at the turn of the 20th century, alongside Forts Flagler and Casey to form what’s known as a ‘Triangle of Fire.’ Each was equipped with powerful artillery to prevent vessels from entering Puget Sound.
Fort Worden first activated on May 3, 1902 with 41 artillery pieces when it first went operational on May 3 of the following year, marking America’s entry into World War I. As soldiers began training with its new equipment in 1917 – 16 pieces from Fort Worden were sent overseas for combat use while 16 more pieces went back home after deactivation, later serving as diagnostic and treatment centers for troubled youths.
Old Post Office and Bell Tower
The Old Post Office stands 270-feet high, providing breathtaking views of Washington from its observation deck. Constructed between 1892 and 1899, this Romanesque Revival structure is second only to Washington Monument for height. At completion, its Romanesque Revival structure gained fame for many firsts: one of the first buildings with an enclosed glass ceiling and skylight; first government building to incorporate steel frames as well.
Congress was gifted by the Ditchley Foundation of Great Britain as a bicentennial gift in 1976; these change-ringing bells can still be heard every Thursday night and during special occasions.
Post Office building had long been threatened with demolition. But in 1971 a handful of activists organized a rally and founded Don’t Tear It Down (DTD), an early form of the National Trust for Historic Preservation that helped convince Congress to recycle the building so both government entities and private companies could share its space.
San Juan Island National Historic Park
This park consists of the former American and English Camps on San Juan Island that were set up as military camps during a border dispute known as The Pig War due to the killing of a pig, providing visitors with insight into this event and its repercussions.
Archipelago Park is home to an abundance of natural wonders: forests seem to sprout from gray rock; dramatic rocky bluffs and beaches provide dramatic backgrounds, while rare plants like chick lupine and golden paintbrush flourish in wetlands. Furthermore, Orca whales, Pacific harbor seals, river otters as well as over 200 bird species all call this park home.
Visit two historic camps, hike pristine trails, and discover an array of habitats: coastal prairies, wetlands and an idyllic lighthouse can be found here; not to mention historic military cemeteries, homesick soldier cottages and beautiful English formal gardens as well. Keep your eyes peeled for stunning Olympic Mountains across the Strait of Juan de Fuca as you journey.
Mount St Helens
Geologists had long voiced concern about Mount St Helens before it erupted in 1980, prompting one newspaper to criticize its display as a “half-hearted show.” Yet the mountain had already made waves through explosions during its Cougar Stage that created lava domes, pyroclastic flows and debris avalanches; eventually it reached its symmetrical form during Kalama and Goat Rocks eruption periods.
The eruption of May 18, 1980 profoundly changed both landscape and lives for many people. A mushroom-shaped cloud of ash filled valleys all the way to the Rocky Mountains and caused rivers to alter their course and destroy forests. A massive blast leveled 230 square miles of forest within minutes; rocks and mud flew thousands of feet away during an enormous lateral blast that sent rocks flying thousands of feet laterally. Native American legends also contain stories about this volcano: Klickitat people tell of two sons, Wy’east and Pahto who battled over Loowit whom her Chief punished with turning into mountains as punishment from his god.
