Fort Townsend State Park
Encyclopedia
Fort Townsend State Park, formerly Old Fort Townsend State Park, in Jefferson County, Washington
is a marine camping park in the Washington State Parks
. It consists of 367 acres (148.5 ha) of wooded land with 3960 feet (1,207 m) of saltwater shoreline on Port Townsend Bay
. Available activities include hiking
, boating
, fishing
, crabbing, and athletic fields.
or Camp Pickett
on San Juan Island
in 1859 during the border dispute called the Pig War
. During the Civil War the abandoned post was used as a marine hospital. Reactivated in 1874, the fort continued in use until fire destroyed the barracks in late 1894 and was abandoned in 1895. The site was retained on the Army rolls until World War II
, when it was used as a munitions defusing station. Washington State Parks
took custody of the premises in 1953, and it became a state park.
}}
Jefferson County, Washington
Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington, named after Thomas Jefferson. As of 2010, the population was 29,872. The county seat is at Port Townsend, which is also the county's only incorporated city....
is a marine camping park in the Washington State Parks
Washington State Park System
The Washington State Park System is a set of state parks owned by the state government of Washington, USA. They are managed by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission. As of 2011, the parks are primarily funded through the state's general fund, augmented by usage fees...
. It consists of 367 acres (148.5 ha) of wooded land with 3960 feet (1,207 m) of saltwater shoreline on Port Townsend Bay
Port Townsend Bay
Port Townsend Bay, also called Port Townsend, is a marine inlet off Admiralty Inlet at the northeastern extreme of the Olympic Peninsula in the U.S. state of Washington. It was named Port Townsend by George Vancouver in 1792. The name Port Townsend Bay is sometimes used to distinguish the bay from...
. Available activities include hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
, boating
Boating
Boating is the leisurely activity of travelling by boat, or the recreational use of a boat whether powerboats, sailboats, or man-powered vessels , focused on the travel itself, as well as sports activities, such as fishing or water skiing...
, fishing
Recreational fishing
Recreational fishing, also called sport fishing, is fishing for pleasure or competition. It can be contrasted with commercial fishing, which is fishing for profit, or subsistence fishing, which is fishing for survival....
, crabbing, and athletic fields.
History
Fort Townsend was built in 1856 by the U.S. Army for the protection of local settlers. The entire garrison was transferred to the American CampSan Juan Island National Historical Park
San Juan Island National Historical Park, also known as American and English Camps, San Juan Island, is a U.S. National Historical Park owned and operated by the National Park Service on San Juan Island in the state of Washington. The park is made up of the sites of the British and U.S. Armies'...
or Camp Pickett
San Juan Island National Historical Park
San Juan Island National Historical Park, also known as American and English Camps, San Juan Island, is a U.S. National Historical Park owned and operated by the National Park Service on San Juan Island in the state of Washington. The park is made up of the sites of the British and U.S. Armies'...
on San Juan Island
San Juan Island
San Juan Island is the second-largest and most populous of the San Juan Islands in northwestern Washington, United States. It has a land area of 142.59 km² and a population of 6,822 as of the 2000 census....
in 1859 during the border dispute called the Pig War
Pig War
The Pig War was a confrontation in 1859 between the United States and the British Empire over the boundary between the US and British North America. The territory in dispute was the San Juan Islands, which lie between Vancouver Island and the North American mainland...
. During the Civil War the abandoned post was used as a marine hospital. Reactivated in 1874, the fort continued in use until fire destroyed the barracks in late 1894 and was abandoned in 1895. The site was retained on the Army rolls until World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, when it was used as a munitions defusing station. Washington State Parks
Washington State Park System
The Washington State Park System is a set of state parks owned by the state government of Washington, USA. They are managed by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission. As of 2011, the parks are primarily funded through the state's general fund, augmented by usage fees...
took custody of the premises in 1953, and it became a state park.
External links
- Fort Wiki: Fort Townsend photos
}}