Port Townsend (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9780738556222)

On Washington's Olympic Peninsula, at the entrance to Puget Sound, the Port Townsend of the 1850s was perfectly situated for sailing vessels. By 1880, thousands of ships from all over the world were passing through. Optimistic investors sought fortunes in shipping, logging, lumber mills, and land speculation. While commerce flourished at sea level, citizens built fine homes, churches, schools, clubs, a respectable shopping district, and parks uptown on the bluff. The settlers of this lovely seaport enjoyed rich cultural and social lives. Port Townsend went bust after the anticipated railroad failed to arrive. It remained largely frozen in time without economic motivation to tear down and replace its fine Victorian architecture. It wasn't until the 1970s that the beautiful setting and buildings were discovered by artists, hippies, preservationists, and, later, tourists and retirees. The town is now a thriving arts and cultural community, still beautiful, still small and remote.

Author: Jefferson County Historical Society
ISBN-10: 073855622X
ISBN-13: 9780738556222
Publisher: Arcadia Publishing (SC)
Language: English
Published: 03/10/2008
Pages: 128
Format: Paperback
Weight: 0.71lbs
Size: 9.32h x 6.46w x 0.40d

Review Citation(s):
Reference and Research Bk News 11/01/2008 pg. 71