Page 182 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Pacific Northwest

180  P A CIFIC NOR THWEST REGION B Y REGION

2 Port Townsend

Port Townsend was founded in 1851, almost 60 years after
Captain Vancouver first saw its harbor and named it for his
friend, the Marquis of Townshend. By the late 19th century,
it was a bustling maritime community, with more ships in its
port than in any other city in the US, with the exception of
New York. Convinced that Port Townsend would be the end
point for a transcontinental railroad, residents went on a
building spree, erecting lavish mansions and grand buildings
in anticipation of its becoming the “New York of the West.”
That dream never materialized, but most of the original
structures from that era have survived. The city today enjoys
a booming tourism business, thanks to its Victorian buildings. Ann Starrett Mansion, with its unusual
Port Townsend is one of only three seaports on the National eight-sided domed tower
Registry as a historic landmark.
frescoed ceilings, and three-
tiered spiral staircase topped
Exploring Port Townsend E Jefferson Museum by a domed ceiling. A National
Port Townsend is easily of Art and History Historic Landmark, it now serves
explored on foot. Water 540 Water St. Tel (360) 385- as a hotel.
Street, the Downtown 1003. Open 11am–4pm daily.
Historic District’s Closed Jan 1, Thanksgiving, P Rothschild House
main boulevard, Dec 25. & 7 = Franklin & Taylor Sts. Tel (360) 379-8076.
is lined with brick- ∑ jchsmuseum.org Open May–Sep: 11am–4pm daily.
and-stone buildings Occupying the old Closed Oct–Apr. &
housing art galleries, City Hall (1891), this A departure from Port Town-
up scale shops, and building once housed send’s more elaborate homes,
restaurants. Many the town’s fire station, this estate reflects the simp licity
of the city’s Victorian jail, court room, and of the New England-style
homes, churches, city offices. Today it design that predated Victorian
and inns are in the is home to the city architecture. Built in 1868 for
Uptown Historic council, as well as an David C. H. Rothschild, it was
District, between excellent museum that donated by the sole remaining
Clay and Lincoln showcases the county’s family member to the
Streets. The center heritage through Washington State Parks and
of the uptown artifacts, archives, and Recreation Commission in 1959.
business district photographs. Highlights Rest ored and listed on the
is Lawrence and of the exhibits include National Register of Historic
Tyler Streets. Maps Jefferson County a display on the area’s Places, the house contains
and information Courthouse tower Native peoples. original furnishings.
about tours are
available at the P Ann Starrett Mansion R St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
visitors’ center. 744 Clay St. Tel (800) 321-0644. 1020 Jefferson St. Tel (360) 385-0770.
Open to hotel guests only. Open 9am–noon Mon–Thu. 5 8am
P Jefferson County ∑ starrettmansion.com & 10am Sun. 7 ∑ stpaulspt.org
Courthouse Built in 1889 by wealthy The oldest surviving church in
1820 Jefferson St. Tel (360) 385-9100. contractor George Starrett as a Port Townsend – and the oldest
Open 9am–5pm Mon–Fri. wedding gift for his bride, Ann, Episcopal church in continuous
Closed public hols. 7 this grand Queen Anne-style use in Washington – the Gothic
The jewel of Port Townsend’s mansion has received national Revival-style St. Paul’s was built
Victorian architecture, this neo- recognition for its architecture, in 1865. Originally located below
Romanesque building was
designed in 1892 by Seattle
architect Willis A. Ritchie, who
ordered its bricks to be hauled
west from St. Louis, rather than
using the soft, local ones. The
building’s 124-ft- (38-m-) tall
clock tower, its clockwork also
dating to 1892, has long been
a landmark for sailors. Union Wharf, jutting out from Port Townsend’s waterfront
For hotels and restaurants see pp288–90 and pp300–2

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