Tour the Downtown and Fort Worden Historical Museums

Tour the downtown museums in the morning:

• Explore the Jefferson Museum of Art & History, 540 Water Street, 360.385.1003, www.jchsmuseum.org, located in the 1892 historic City Hall where you’ll learn about the town’s history. Be sure to watch the award-winning “We Came with Dreams” video! Pick up a passport for admission to this museum, the Rothschild House and the Commanding Officer’s Quarters.
• The Rothschild House (summer only), on the corner of Franklin and Taylor Streets, was built in 1868 and is virtually unchanged from over a hundred years ago. The house has been left intact from when the family donated it to Washington State Parks.

Then make your way to Fort Worden for lunch at either of the Fort’s two eateries:

• Taps at the Guardhouse (lunch and dinner), 300 Eisenhower Avenue, 360.344.4400, ext. 105, www.fortworden.org/eat-here/
• Reveille (breakfast, lunch, dinner), 200 Battery Way, 360.344.4400, ext. 105, www.fortworden.org/eat-here/

Then tour the Fort’s fascinating historical and natural museums:

• The Commanding Officer’s Quarters Museum, located on the parade grounds at Fort Worden, was built in 1904 overlooking Admiralty Inlet. Late Victorian and Edwardian furnishings provide a unique glimpse into the life of a senior Army officer and his family during the first decade of the 20^th century.
• The Coast Artillery Museum, 200 Battery Way, 360.385.0373, www.coastartillery.org, is across the parade grounds at Fort Worden and located in one of the original 1904 Barracks. Here you’ll learn about the history of Fort Worden, discover why the batteries were built and the coast artillery’s harbor defense of Puget Sound.
• The Port Townsend Marine Science Center (hours of operation vary seasonally), 532 Battery Way, Fort Worden, 360.385.5582, www.ptmsci.org, is dedicated to inspiring conservation of the Salish Sea (Puget Sound) and operates an aquarium with touch tanks as well as an interactive museum with natural history information.

Planes, Fries, and Family Lines

Visit the Port Townsend Aero Museum in the morning, with lunch at the Jefferson International Airport’s Spruce Goose Café – where you can sit outside and enjoy a burger while watching planes soar into the air. Finish up with a visit to the JCGS Research Center in the afternoon.

• The Port Townsend Aero Museum, 105 Airport Road, 360.379.5244, www.ptaeromuseum.com, has more tan 30 rare and antique aircraft specimens that are available for public viewing and more than 60% are regularly flown.
• Spruce Goose Café, 302 Airport Road, 360.385.3185, www.sprucegoosecafe.com
• Check out the Jefferson County Genealogical Society (JCGS) Research Center, 13692 Highway 19 (Airport Cutoff Road), 360.385.9495, www.wajcgs.org/research-center/, where the JCGS library and collections are housed as well as archives and vast collections of the Jefferson County Historical Society.

Attend the Port Townsend Victorian Festival

Each March, Port Townsend’s Victorian Festival embraces new events, old favorites, and even more opportunities to experience a way of life that was. Learn about the beautiful Victorian architecture of Port Townsend and enjoy favorites like the Fashion Show, High Tea, Building Tours and the Grand Ball.

Attend the Steampunk Hootenanny

Join the Brass Screw Confederacy! Each June, experience the Pacific Northwest’s immersive Steampunk Festival set in Port Townsend. A weeked of Victoriana mixed with science, invention, and a great deal of fun. https://www.brassscrew.org/

Two-Day Festivals

Port Townsend Victorian Festival (March)

Each March, Port Townsend’s Victorian Festival embraces new events, old favorites, and even more opportunities to experience a way of life that was. Learn about the beautiful Victorian architecture of Port Townsend and enjoy favorites like the Fashion Show, High Tea, Building Tours and the Grand Ball.

Brass Screw Confederacy (June)

Join the Brass Screw Confederacy! Each June, experience the Pacific Northwest’s immersive Steampunk Festival set in Port Townsend. A weekend of Victoriana mixed with science, invention, and a great deal of fun. https://www.brassscrew.org/

Year-Round

Fort Worden History

Day One – Tour Coast Artillery Museum + lunch at Reveille or Taps at the Guardhouse + hike the trails around Fort Worden, exploring the batteries and bunkers

Day Two – Visit the Commanding Officer’s Quarters Museum + a summer lunch at the Cablehouse Canteen on the beach + tour the Port Townsend Marine Science Center

Port Townsend History

Day One – Visit the Jefferson County Museum of Art and History + have lunch at Sirens Pub on the waterfront + go on a self-guided walking tour of the historic districts, ending at the Rothschild House

Day Two – Pick up items for a picnic at Aldrich’s Market, 940 Lawrence Street, 360.385.0500, www.aldrichs.com, follow the Chetzemoka Trail + have a picnic lunch at Chetzemoka Park + check out the totem pole and cedar canoe at the Northwest Maritime Center