Page 186 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Pacific Northwest

184  P A CIFIC NOR THWEST REGION B Y REGION

4 Bellingham
Road map 1 A1. k Bellingham
Airport. * 81,000. n (800) 487-
2032. ∑ bellingham.org
Overlooking Bellingham Bay
and many of the San Juan
Islands, Bellingham has been
inhabited by the Lummi Indians Boats journeying along the Skagit River in La Conner
for thousands of years. The area
– consisting of the four original The town also attracts visitors to 5 La Conner
towns of Whatcom, Sehome, its craft breweries and art events.
Bellingham, and Fairhaven – was Road map 1 A2. * 890. g n (888)
settled in 1853 and consolidated E Whatcom Museum 642-9284. ∑ lovelaconner.com
in 1904. The town’s historic Old City Hall, 121 Prospect St. Tel (360)
architecture includes Old 778-8930. Open noon–5pm Thu–Sun; Long associated in the minds
Whatcom County Courthouse Lightcatcher Building: 250 Flora St. of Washingtonians with tulips,
(1308 East Street), the first brick Open noon–5pm Wed–Sun (to 8pm the town of La Conner draws
building north of San Francisco, Thu, from 10am Sat). Family Interactive thousands to the Skagit Valley
built in 1858, and the majestic Gallery: 250 Flora St. Open 10am– Tulip Festival. And although the
5pm Wed–Sun (from noon Sun).
Old City Hall, built in 1892 in the Closed major hols. & 7 - = town’s famous fields are abloom
Victorian Second Empire style. ∑ whatcommuseum.org with spectacular color come
The latter is now the heart of springtime, there is more to
the Whatcom Museum, a three- E Western Washington La Conner than flowers. A
building campus that includes University magnet for artists since the
a children’s museum. Highlights 516 High St. n S College Dr & College 1940s, this tiny town is a thriving
of the museum include exhibits Way. Tel (360) 650-3000. Visitors’ center: arts community. The highly
on the Northwest Coast First Open 7:15am–4:30pm Mon–Fri. respected Museum of
Nations and on the birds Closed major hols. 7 ∑ wwu.edu Northwest Art showcases works
of the Pacific Northwest. by Mark Tobey, Guy Anderson,
South of downtown, the Environs Morris Graves, and Kenneth
historic Fairhaven district South of Bellingham, Callahan (all of whom were
is an artsy enclave of Chuckanut Drive inspired by the Skagit Valley’s
Victorian buildings (Highway 11) is a scenic unique light), as well as Dale
housing galleries, 21-mile (34-km) loop Chihuly and other prominent
restaurants, bookstores, with outlooks to Puget Pacific Northwest artists.
and coffeehouses. Sound and the San Listed on the National
Just up the hill Juan Islands. Along Register of Historic Places,
from downtown the way are hiking La Conner was founded in the
Bellingham sits and biking trails, early 1860s. It was originally
the campus restaur ants, and called Swinomish, after the
of Western oyster farms area’s first residents, the
Washington Tower of Bellingham’s selling fresh oysters Swinomish Indians. In 1869,
University, which has former City Hall in season. Fifty-five wealthy merchant John Conner
a famous collection miles (88.5 km) east renamed the town after his
of outdoor sculptures, including of Bellingham is 10,778-ft- wife, Louisa Ann Siegfried, by
artworks by internationally (3,285-m-) high Mount Baker, combining her first two initials
recognized American artists where the ski and snowboarding and her married name. Louisa
Richard Serra, Mark di Suvero, season runs from November Ann was the town’s first non-
and Richard Beyer. through April. Indian woman resident. For
a glimpse into her life – and
those of other early settlers –
visit the Skagit County
Historical Museum.
E Museum of Northwest Art
121 S 1st St. Tel (360) 466-4446.
Open noon–5pm Sun & Mon, 10am–
5pm Tue–Sat. Closed major hols. &
7 = ∑ museumofnwart.org
E Skagit County Historical
Museum
501 S 4th St. Tel (360) 466-3365.
Crab traps on a boat ready to set out from Bellingham Harbor Open 11am–5pm Tue–Sun. & 7 =
For hotels and restaurants see pp288–90 and pp300–2

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