Fisherpoets Gathering
The Fisherpoets Gathering celebrates the lived experiences of commercial fishers through poetry every year on the banks of the Columbia River in Astoria.
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Stories
Since time immemorial, people have settled along the saltwater shores of what is today Washington State, supported by the rich maritime resources for food, shelter, inspiration, trade, and transportation. Today, Washington’s shores continue to serve as home to many vibrant maritime cultures. The stories of this place are diverse, complex, and constantly evolving. To help share these narratives, Maritime Washington uses three interpretive themes as an organizing framework: people, movement, and resources. Learn more about the people, places, and cultures that make up Maritime Washington by exploring this collection of stories from our shores. And be sure to check back frequently—we’re always adding new voices to this story bank.
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Makers on the Tide: Earl & Floyd Willits and Their Remarkable Canoes
Willits canoes, famed for their beauty and grace, were hand-built by two brothers from Tacoma, and only 918 were ever made.
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Women on the Waterfront: Jennie Buswell
Jennie Buswell is a terminal supervisor in Port Townsend, and with her million-dollar view and a great team, she’s not going anywhere.
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North Kitsap Maritime Trivia and Stories
Test and expand your knowledge of North Kitsap’s lesser-known stories with these questions.
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Women on the Waterfront: Ava Karr
Ava Karr is a seaplane pilot for Kemore Air, and she loves her job because anywhere with enough water is a runway for exploration.
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Women on the Waterfront: Michele Allen
Michele Allen is ready to retire and move somewhere warm. Until then, she’s getting people where they need to go and passing on her knowledge.
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Working Waterfronts: Marine Fluid Systems – A Forgotten Backstory
Marine Fluid Systems is a family shipyard business, but few are aware that the site has operated continuously for more than 120 years.
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Working Waterfronts: The Art of Caulking
Caulking keeps wooden boats floating, but the days of caulking gangs are long gone and only a few people are keeping this trade alive. This is their art.
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Women on the Waterfront: Deb Dempsey
Deb Dempsey is the first woman to attend a maritime academy, to guide ships over the Columbia Bar, and has been braving new waters for women for decades.
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Can I Walk on the Beach? A Brief History of Privately-Owned Tidelands in Washington
Is my beach legal to walk on? The answer is complex, with decades of legal cases and treaties affecting Washington’s shores.
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Japanese Immigrants and Washington’s Oyster Industry
By: Cynthia Nims Oysters have long held a significant place in the culture, economy, and gastronomy of Washington State. For countless generations, oysters have been
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Women on the Waterfront: Courtney Hart
Meet Courtney Hart: the crustacean program manager for the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe. Her work is—in a word—complicated.
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Women on the Waterfront: Thea Foss
“I desired to be an American like everyone, but how proud I am now of having Norwegian ancestry of the first generation in this country,
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Working Waterfronts: Moby Duck Chowder, Port Angeles
Meet Jeremy and Jason Holden, Jamestown S’Klallam fishermen and owners of a waterfront restaurant serving Native-caught seafood.
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Women on the Waterfront: Anita Luvera Mayer
It’s the 1940s and you’re the cook aboard an eight-person purse seine fishing crew going out for six-day expeditions in Puget Sound. How do you get
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