Port Angeles, Washington

Located on the Olympic Peninsula in the northwest corner of Washington State, Port Angeles is a community of just under 20,000. Port Angeles is a community rich in cultural events, history and diversity. It was officially established as the location of the Custom House in 1861, but its history started long before when the Lower Elwha S'Klallam used what is now called Hollywood Beach as a fishing village. This site is now frontage for the waterfront trail and city pier. The city still maintains a vigorous harbour for trade and commerce.

Port Angeles was established as a townsite by Abraham Lincoln in 1862 and showcases its history and art in a variety of museums and galleries. The forest and fishing industries played major roles in the boom and bust economy of Port Angeles. The regenerative forest around Port Angeles supplied the building materials for Seattle, San Francisco and beyond. Trees of mammoth proportions were shipped through the Port and salmon was king of the Strait and plentiful for all to fish. Commercial fisherman, charter boats, and sport fisherman took their limits easily and returned year after year just as the salmon did. Both industries have slowed as concerns over habitat for bird and salmon are analyzed and protective zones and regulations have been developed.

Port Angeles sits near the base of the spectacular Olympic Mountains and consequently boasts a multitude of outdoor recreation opportunities. You can do it all in and around Port Angeles, from snowshoeing to surfing. Olympic National Park was established in 1938 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and generations of residents and travellers have also visited the Olympics for rest and rejuvenation. Two hot springs in Olympic National Park were touted for their medicinal value early in the 1900’s and still welcome visitors to enjoy the warm waters.