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Visit Port Townsend

By Angela Brown, About.com

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Port Townsend: Historic Victorian Seaport

The Hastings Building in Port Townsend

The Hastings Building in Port Townsend

© Angela M. Brown (2008)
Perched on the northeastern tip of Washington's Olympic Peninsula, Port Townsend offers visitors an attractive combination of spectacular natural beauty and Victorian charm. A shipbuilding boomtown in the late 1800s, Port Townsend is home to grand historic buildings and residences, many which house the B&Bs and shops that make the city a popular tourist destination. Surrounded by water, its location and proximity to Olympic National Park and Olympic National Forest make it a haven for artists, nature lovers, and outdoor enthusiasts.

Historic Homes
There are dozens of well-preserved historic homes in Port Townsend. Their beautiful exteriors can be viewed on a walking tour, while driving through town, or on the annual "Historic Homes Tour". Many of the town's businesses occupy attractive historic buildings as well.

Point Wilson Lighthouse
Originally built in 1879, this historic lighthouse still shines under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Coast Guard, although its operations will soon be transferred to the Washington State Park department.

Jefferson County Historical Museum
Explore the heritage of the region, from Native American culture and early European exploration to Port Townsend's Victorian splendor and military history.

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