Plan a road trip to one of these Washington state museums. So, make a weekend of it and enjoy the great work that these museums do. And, aside from museums, there are other great places to visit along the way. Plus, all these Washington state museums are affordable: As of February, admission prices ranged from $12 to free for an adult ticket. Some collections have been painstakingly built over decades via donated objects from the families who live there. Some Washington state museums offer exhibits that you won’t find anywhere else. Washington state has no shortage of great regional museums, but some stand out as truly road trip-worthy destinations. It was acquired by Washington State Parks in 1950 and opened as a park in 1951.Don’t miss these community museums that are worth the drive In 1947, Fort Columbia was declared surplus by the military. The fort almost saw action once during World War II, when a Japanese submarine fired nine shots at nearby Fort Stevens. Construction began in 1897, the first garrison of soldiers arrived in 1903, and the fort was completed in 1904.įort Columbia remained operational through World War I and II, though it never fired a shot outside of training in all those years. In 1895, the War Department decided to strengthen and modernize the coastal defenses at the mouth of the Columbia. military purchased the property in 1864, though it was not developed until the turn of the century. He established a productive farm in the 1840s, but passed away in 1855. Two land features, Scarborough Hill and Chinook Point, became useful navigational points for mariners crossing the Columbia River Bar, until navigational equipment advanced in the 1850s and the two landmarks became less relevant.Ĭaptain James Scarborough, a British sailor and employee of the Hudson's Bay Company, was the first Euro-American to settle the land. He anchored at Chinook Point, and he named the river for his ship, The Columbia Rediviva. In 1792, American explorer and fur trader Robert Gray became the first Euro-American to enter the mouth of the Columbia River. Ĭurrent-day Fort Columbia Historical State Park lies within the cultural territory of the Chinook Indian Nation, whose people traditionally engaged in a rich fur trade and still live in the area today. For more information on coverage areas and hours of service at Fort Columbia and our growing list of parks with Wi-Fi service, visit our parks Wi-Fi page. PARK WI-FI SERVICEįree, high-speed Wi-Fi access is available in limited coverage areas at Fort Columbia. Chinook Point, the setting of this historic fort, is within the accustomed territory of the Chinook Indian Nation and is designated as a National Historic Landmark for its historical significance over three centuries.Īutomated pay stations: This park is equipped with automated pay stations for visitors to purchase a one-day or annual Discover Pass and boat launch permit. The park sits along 6,400 feet of freshwater shoreline on the Columbia River. Park featuresįort Columbia Historical State Park is a 618-acre, day-use historical park located within Lewis and Clark National and State Historical Park. Two of the restored buildings are available for rent these vacation houses are perfect for family reunions and retreats. In addition to its historical significance, the area offers bird watching, miles of forested hiking trails and secluded beaches. Peruse the park’s interpretive center for artifacts, photos and stories about exploration, the fur trade and the military community on the Columbia. The guns were transferred to the park in 1994 from a U.S. Stroll amidst officers’ homes, artillery batteries and two 6-inch, rapid-fire, World War II-era guns that are among six still in existence. Military and maritime history buffs, take note! Fort Columbia State Park is considered one of the most intact historic coastal defense sites in the U.S.Ĭonstructed between 18, renovated during World War II and de-commissioned in 1947, this day-use park on Chinook Point near the mouth of the Columbia River will take you back to the early 20th Century.įort Columbia’s small size and the historic integrity of its buildings give visitors an intimate feel for what life must have been like during its active years.
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