Port Townsend shares a rich maritime history with other towns around the country that once prospered as vibrant, bustling seaports.
But unlike most of those places, where real maritime activity has been replaced with nautical-themed tourism, Port Townsend still derives a significant chunk of its revenue from maritime trades. In recognition of that ongoing tradition, “working waterfront” [...]
Archive for the ‘History’ Category
Wooden Boat Fest celebrates a modern rarity: the working waterfront
Norm Blanchard, 1911-2009: ship builder’s passing marks the end of an era
The Northwest lost one of its most prolific and respected boat builders and designers with the death last week of Norm Blanchard.
Blanchard died July 9. He was 98.
Blanchard was the son of Norman J. Blanchard, who founded the Blanchard Boat Company. He inherited both his father’s name and his talent and passion for boat building, [...]
Slide show | Sun and crowds at Wooden Boat Fest
The crowds turned out on an unusually hot Fourth of July weekend to tour classic wooden schooners, make toy boats, listen to live music and get out on the water for some welcome breezes during the 33rd annual Lake Union Wooden Boat Festival Saturday and Sunday.
Up to 20,000 people were expected to attend the event, [...]
How the tide turned on Doc Freeman’s
Lee Knudsen might have shaken his head and laughed at the sign announcing a liquidation sale at Doc Freeman’s in 2003. Over a half-century, Knudsen, his dad and Doc himself had built the store’s reputation for having any part for anything that floated. Read on for the sad tale of this historic store’s decline[...]
Read the rest of this entry »Audio slide show | A caretaker and his Dreamboat
This beautifully maintained 1926 Lake Union Dreamboat is thought to be one of only about 24 ever made. With its tongue and groove cedar ceiling, large windows and comfortable helm seats, it’s a timeless testament to old world craftsmanship—and a labor of love for its dedicated owner, Greg Gilbert.
Three Sheets Northwest will be looking for other [...]
Read the rest of this entry »Meydenbauer Bay’s Hidden Past — Whalers’ Home Port
MEYDENBAUER BAY–In the decades between the world wars, seven steam-powered boats, their high bows weighted with harpoon cannon, rode out winters tied two and three deep to a lonely wooden pier that reached into Meydenbauer Bay.
No one could have known it at the time, but Bellevue’s quiet, crook-fingered bay on Lake Washington was where the [...]
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Building a funky future for wooden boats
The Center for Wooden Boats is all about vintage vessels, ...


