Anacortes, Washington, USA
A working waterfront at its best
Authored / Pictures by: Martin Leduc, 2008
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Strolling through Anacortes in North West Washington state, in the United States, is always a treat. This beautiful town host many festivals and cultural activities grounded on its well preserved heritage, strongly influenced by the sea.
History
Until its initial European discovery by the Spanish explorer Carrasco in 1790, the Samish and Swinomish aboriginals were the original inhabitants of what is now Fidalgo Island on which Anacortes is situated. Traders, trappers made their mark on the area until it was settled by a permanent white settlement in the 1850's of mostly farmers and hunters. Anacortes was incorporated in 1891, and claimed 936 inhabitants in 1893. The town boomed shortly after, with the wide expectation that the city would be the pacific terminus of an intercontinental railroad, but the railroad went bankrupt and the town suffered greatly. 1890s was also the beginning of the salmon canning and codfish curing industries. By 1915, 14 plants processed the seas' bounty, the last cannery closed in late 1990. The second major industry to the area, starting in the 1880's, were and somewhat continue to be, lumber mills. In the 1960s the town had a vibrant forest industry, a pulp mill, plywood mill, and shingle mill were in operation. In keeping with its industrious roots the town also had a a glass factory, a brick factory and of course boat building. The oil refineries of Shell and Texaco were built just outside of town on March Point, in the 1950's and continue operating to this day.
Every where you look in this city, is a reminder that you are very near the ocean and all its bounty, past and present. Today’s Anacortes, with its population of just over 16,000 inhabitants, continues to have a vibrant and diverse working maritime waterfront and a healthy social program. Every year an estimate 75,000 visitors take part in the city's many festivals and cultural events.
Ship builder and a bustling port
At the heart of this town is the Port of Anacortes probably the single largest entity in town, and responsible for the extensive array of maritime venture in the area. On part of the port's land, sits the Dakota Creek Shipyard, established in Anacortes in 1977. Intertwined so easily into the social fabric of this town, one has to wonder how they ever manage to marry the lot so finely. Nestled at the bottom of Commercial Street, its surrounding peppered with trendy restaurants, fine homes and groovy antique stores, several commercial fishing vessels tower up from the landscape. "On the ways" today, at Dakota Creek, are the large fishing boats Auriga and Aurora, up for their surveys and bottom paint, with workers tending to them like bees.
