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A−History
History · Port Townsend

Port Townsend’s historic district, a National Historic Landmark, takes in 760 buildings

More historic than 82% of U.S. towns · #8 of 285 in Washington. What drives it

41 places in town are on the National Register, among them 2 National Historic Landmarks and two historic districts with 819 buildings between them. Below: 18 old photos and papers, maps from 1884 on, and the census since 1880.

1851founded
41on the National Register
23%homes built before 1940
18old photos & papers
Add an old photoShare a memory
From Port Townsend’s archive · credits on each photo
Quick answers

How Port Townsend began

When was Port Townsend founded?

1851

Port Townsend dates its founding to 1851 (Wikidata). The census first counted it in 1880.

First census: 917 in 18802020 census: 10,148175 years

How historic is Port Townsend?

A−

More historic than 82% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.

What drives the grade ↓
Founding year: Wikidata. First post office: 1852.The full story ↓
History grade

What drives Port Townsend’s History grade

On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Port Townsend is more historic than 82% of U.S. towns, #8 of 285 in Washington. Its National Register listings hold the grade up; its age pulls it down.

A−
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Port Townsend’s overall grade.
Founding era1851, from Wikidata: founded 1850–1899, an older era than 37% of U.S. townsC+Homes built before 194023.1% of homes (±3.2) · typical WA town 4.3% · U.S. 8.4%A−National Register41 listings, 858 historic buildings, 822 per 10,000 residents · typical WA town 0.1 · U.S. 2.4A+
All U.S. towns we grade (21,289)Ahead of 82%
NewerOlder
Washington towns of 2,500+ (285)Ahead of 98%

Few Washington towns list much on the Register (a typical Washington town has 0.1 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Port Townsend’s 822 sits above most of its state (100% of Washington towns have fewer) while its 858 historic buildings outnumber those of 98% of U.S. towns.

How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from B to A. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±3.2 points). Two sources give 1851.

Founding year: Wikidata (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →

What stands out about Port Townsend’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

A National Historic Landmark41 places on the National Register, 2 of them National Historic Landmarks.A historic districtThe Port Townsend Historic District, a National Historic Landmark, takes in 760 historic buildings.Shrank, then grewLost a third of its people between 1890 and 1920, then grew 3-fold.A town in old photos18 old photos, postcards and papers, 1859–1890.
★ What stands out · On the National Register

41 listings protect 858 historic buildings

The country’s official list of buildings and places worth saving. 2 are National Historic Landmarks, the highest tier.

places listed
41
National Historic Landmarks
2
Fort Worden
historic buildings protected
858
each building in a district counts
first listed
1970
Capt. Enoch S. Fowler House
Capt. Enoch S. Fowler House, built 1865Francis Wilcox James House, built 1889Leader Building, built 1874Manresa Hall, built 1892Rothschild House, built 1868St. Paul's Episcopal ChurchStarrett House, built 1889Old German ConsulatePoint Wilson Lighthouse, built 1879City Hall, built 1891Horace Tucker House, built 1867Jefferson County CourthouseJames C. Saunders House, built 1891Gagen-Sherlock House, built 1890Port Townsend Carnegie Library, built 1913Andrew Stegerwald HouseColeman-Furlong House, built 1890F. C. Harper House, built 1889Ferdinand Schlager House, built 1890H. S. Petersen HouseHenry Bash House, built 1885House at 1723 Holcomb StreetHouse at 30 Tremont StreetHouse at 503 Fir Street, built 1889J. N. Laubach House, built 1884J. W. Griffiths House, built 1890Joel Edwards House, built 1890John Trumbull House, built 1891Judge Ralston HouseLake-Little House, built 1890Milo P. Ward House, built 1889Pearson House, built 1889Thomas Fitzgerald HouseBenjamin S. Pettygrove HouseF/V WESTERN FLYER (purse seiner)Lincoln School, built 1892Frank Bartlett House, built 1883O. L. and Josephine Morgan HouseColonel Henry Landes HouseFort Worden★Port Townsend Historic District★
BuildingsDistrictsStructures★ landmark

Architectural styles listings

Late Victorian22
Queen Anne3
Carpenter Gothic2
Victorian2
Classical Revival1
Rural Gothic1
★ Landmark
Fort WordenDistrict
★ Landmark
Port Townsend Historic DistrictClassical Revival
Capt. Enoch S. Fowler HouseBuilt 1865
Francis Wilcox James HouseBuilt 1889
Leader BuildingBuilt 1874
Manresa HallBuilt 1892
Rothschild HouseBuilt 1868
St. Paul's Episcopal ChurchGothic
All 41 listings
Starrett HouseBuilding · listed 1970Old German ConsulateBuilding · listed 1971Point Wilson LighthouseStructure · listed 1971City HallBuilding · listed 1971Horace Tucker HouseBuilding · listed 1973Jefferson County CourthouseBuilding · listed 1973James C. Saunders HouseBuilding · listed 1977Gagen-Sherlock HouseBuilding · listed 1982Port Townsend Carnegie LibraryBuilding · listed 1982Andrew Stegerwald HouseBuilding · listed 1985Coleman-Furlong HouseBuilding · listed 1985F. C. Harper HouseBuilding · listed 1985Ferdinand Schlager HouseBuilding · listed 1985H. S. Petersen HouseBuilding · listed 1985Henry Bash HouseBuilding · listed 1985House at 1723 Holcomb StreetBuilding · listed 1985House at 30 Tremont StreetBuilding · listed 1985House at 503 Fir StreetBuilding · listed 1985J. N. Laubach HouseBuilding · listed 1985J. W. Griffiths HouseBuilding · listed 1985Joel Edwards HouseBuilding · listed 1985John Trumbull HouseBuilding · listed 1985Judge Ralston HouseBuilding · listed 1985Lake-Little HouseBuilding · listed 1985Milo P. Ward HouseBuilding · listed 1985Pearson HouseBuilding · listed 1985Thomas Fitzgerald HouseBuilding · listed 1985Benjamin S. Pettygrove HouseBuilding · listed 1985F/V WESTERN FLYER (purse seiner)Structure · listed 2017Lincoln SchoolBuilding · listed 2017Frank Bartlett HouseBuilding · listed 1973O. L. and Josephine Morgan HouseBuilding · listed 1985Colonel Henry Landes HouseBuilding · listed 2021

National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each place’s page.

People over time

Port Townsend, census by census

02,0004,0006,0008,00010,000188019001920194019601980200020204,558 in 1890Low: 2,847

Lost a third of its people between 1890 and 1920, then grew 3-fold.

15 censuses, 1880–2020.

U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Port Townsend’s Wikipedia page.

The story

How Port Townsend came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Port Townsend.

Read it all →

The bay was originally named "Port Townshend" by Captain George Vancouver in 1792, for his friend the Marquis of Townshend. It was immediately recognized as a good safe harbor, although strong south winds and poor holding ground often make small-craft anchorage problematic off the town's waterfront.

The official founding of the American city of the same name took place on April 24, 1851. Indian tribes located in what is now Jefferson County in the mid-19th century included the Chimakum (or Chemakum), Hoh (a group of the Quileute), Klallam (or Clallam), Quinault, and Twana (the Kilcid band — Anglicized as "Quilcene").

ChaptersRecognition of historic status

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Timeline

Port Townsend, 1851 to 2024

Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.

  1. 19th century
  2. 1851
    FoundingPort Townsend is established
  3. 1852Post officeThe Port Townsend post office opens
  4. 1859In the archiveKlallam people at
  5. 1862In the archiveStreet scene showing hotels and businesses, Port Townsend, Washington, ca. 1862
  6. 1865BuiltCapt. Enoch S. Fowler House is built
  7. 1872In the archiveWells Fargo and Co.'s Express Office, Port Townsend, Washington, ca. 1872
  8. 1874BuiltLeader Building is built
  9. 1880In the archiveLooking East from Filmore and Washington Streets over business quarter, Port Townsend, 18…
  10. 1889BuiltFrancis Wilcox James House is built
  11. 1890In the archiveBrick making operation, Port Townsend, Washington, ca. 1890
  12. 1892BuiltManresa Hall is built
  13. 20th century
  14. 1939On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
  15. 1977LandmarkPort Townsend Historic District named a National Historic Landmark
  16. 21st century
  17. 2020CensusPopulation peaks at 10,148
  18. 2024LandmarkFort Worden named a National Historic Landmark
By decade

Port Townsend, decade by decade

5 decades in the archive, from the 1850s to the 1890s. Scroll each row; tap a photo for its story.

1850s–1870s7 items
Klallam people at1859Klallam people atStreet scene showing hotels and businesses, Port Townsend, Washington, ca. 1862c. 1862Street scene showing hotels and businesses, Port Town…Waterfront district, Port Townsend, 18651865Waterfront district, Port Townsend, 1865Wells Fargo and Co.'s Express Office, Port Townsend, Washington, ca. 1872c. 1872Wells Fargo and Co.'s Express Office, Port Townsend, …Bird's eye view of Port Townsend, Puget Sound, Washington Territory 18781878Bird's eye view of Port Townsend, Puget Sound, Washin…Bird's eye view of Port Townsend, Puget Sound, Washington Territory. From the north-east. 1878 - drawn and published by…1878Bird's eye view of Port Townsend, Puget Sound, Washin…Bird's eye view of Port Townsend, Puget Sound, Washington Territory. From the north-east. 18781878Bird's eye view of Port Townsend, Puget Sound, Washin…
1880s5 items
Looking East from Filmore and Washington Streets over business quarter, Port Townsend, 1880s-1900s1880Looking East from Filmore and Washington Streets over…Port Townsend, Washington, ca. 1885c. 1885Port Townsend, Washington, ca. 1885Waterfront at Port Townsend, ca. 1887c. 1887Waterfront at Port Townsend, ca. 1887Steamer PREMIER at Port Townsend, 18881888Steamer PREMIER at Port Townsend, 1888Photograph of Makah Indiansc. 1889Photograph of Makah Indians
1890s6 items
Brick making operation, Port Townsend, Washington, ca. 1890c. 1890Brick making operation, Port Townsend, Washington, ca…Looking dwon Taylor St., Port Townsend, Washington, ca. 1890c. 1890Looking dwon Taylor St., Port Townsend, Washington, c…Port Townsend from Morgan Hill looking Southeast , 1890s1890Port Townsend from Morgan Hill looking Southeast , 18…Port Townsend showing construction site for the Elks Temple, Washington, ca. 1890c. 1890Port Townsend showing construction site for the Elks …Port Townsend, Washington, ca. 1890c. 1890Port Townsend, Washington, ca. 1890Waterfront, Port Townsend, Washington, ca. 1890c. 1890Waterfront, Port Townsend, Washington, ca. 1890
1900s–1990snothing yet
Nothing in the archives for these yearsWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
Add from your album
On the map

Port Townsend on the map, 1939 to 1981

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Port Townsend. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

Port Townsend on the 1939 USGS mapPort Townsend on the 1953 USGS mapPort Townsend on the 1973 USGS mapPort Townsend on the 1981 USGS map1939Port Townsend sheet · 1:62,500

U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Port Townsend.

Every building

Port Townsend, building by building, 1884–1911

Fire insurance maps drew every building, what it was made of and what it was used for, so insurers could price the risk of fire. Pick a year, then a sheet.

Port Townsend fire insurance map, 1884, sheet 11884Sheet 1 of 1
Edition
Sheets
BrickWoodStone

Sanborn Map Company, via the Library of Congress. Editions published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.

Then & now

Stand where they stood

No then-and-now pairs yet. Take a photo from the same spot as an old one and they appear here side by side.

Klallam people at
Retake this viewKlallam people at, 1859

Find the spot, match the angle, and add your photo. It becomes the first then-and-now pair on Port Townsend’s page.

Retake this view · +15
Places that used to be

Old corners and burying grounds

Port Townsend’s post office has been open since 1852.

Hamlets and corners on the map
Sea Breeze Mobile Home Park
4cemeteries and burying grounds inside Port Townsend
Fort Worden MilitaryJefferson CountyLaurel GroveRedmens

US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

Help out

Finish Port Townsend’s story

Most archives stop around 1920. The photos from after that are in family albums, not libraries.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
0 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Retake an old viewKlallam people at: stand where they stood+15Share a family photoSign in to add one+10

Questions about Port Townsend’s history

What year was Port Townsend founded?

In 1851, according to Wikidata. Port Townsend’s post office opened in 1852, and the census of 1880 counted 917 people here.

How does Port Townsend rank for history?

Port Townsend is more historic than 82% of U.S. towns, #8 of 285 in Washington. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.

What is on the National Register in Port Townsend?

41 listings, 2 of them National Historic Landmarks: 37 buildings, among them the Capt. Enoch S. Fowler House (listed 1970, the first), 2 historic districts, the Fort Worden and the Port Townsend Historic District, with 819 contributing buildings, and 2 structures. 858 historic buildings in all.

How old are the homes in Port Townsend?

23% of Port Townsend’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±3.2 points), against a typical 4.3% for a Washington town; the median home was built in 1981.

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
Start a conversation
Sources

Where this page comes from

Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

From Wikimedia Commons (18), Wikidata (11), the National Register of Historic Places (41), Wikipedia, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock), the USGS Geographic Names Information System and Sanborn fire insurance maps (Library of Congress). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.