Downtown Historic Walking Tour
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Downtown Historic Walking Tour
By Jefferson Museum of Art & History
About
Port Townsend is one of only three Victorian Seaports in the United States. In the late 1890s a series of events allowed City leaders to build beautiful, highly stylized Victorian buildings. Additional events caused the population to rapidly decline and as such the City was frozen in time until preservationists recognized the significance of the City's architecture in the 1960s and 1970s.
As the Historical Society for the City of Port Townsend and surrounding areas we are the only organization providing high quality walking tours featuring the true stories of the people and events that make Port Townsend uniquely Victorian. As a non-profit, all ticket sales go directly to the promotion and preservation of local history.
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Ages 1-100, max of 60 per group
Duration: 1h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
English
- Museum Admission
- Entry/Admission - Jefferson Museum of Art & History
- Departure details
- 540 Water St, Port Townsend, WA 98368, USA Towards the end of Water Street is the historic City Hall building, now the Museum of Art & History. The building is across from Pope Marine Park and Plaza.
Return details- Returns to original departure point
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 121800P1- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Most travelers can participate
- The tour is conducted on flat ground - no elevation incline or decline.
- Not recommended for travelers who have trouble standing and walking for one hour.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 60 travelers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 121800P1
Itinerary
- You'll start at540 Water St540 Water St, Port Townsend, WA 98368, USATowards the end of Water Street is the historic City Hall building, now the Museum of Art & History. The building is across from Pope Marine Park and Plaza.See address & details
- 1Jefferson Museum of Art & HistoryStop: 15 minutes - Admission includedThis 1892 historic City Hall is the starting point for the tour. We will gather and provide an overview of the town's history. Admission to the Museum is free upon completion of the tour.Read more
- You'll return to the starting point
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About the operator
- snoopysusan00History and time travelThe museum is beautiful and so wonderfully detailed. An absolute must for historians visiting Port Townsend. The staff is knowledgeable and friendly.
- USAtraveler5000The antique auto placeAntique auto is wonderful for a car guy. Aldridge's Grocery at the top of the hill is wonderful as is the bakery up there.
- UnFoodie00Self-Guided TourWe went here on a self-guided tour last year. It was great to step into the courtroom and walk downstairs through the jail cells. It felt like stepping back in time, to stand where others stood over 120 years ago. I hope my family and I can go here again so I can get pictures.
- Mike O00A Working Town Hall Court And MuseumA very interesting museum and art gallery and part of a working town hall and court house,my favorite part was the old cells and horse drawn Hurst and carriage
- lindamF5446JQ00Funky Art & Historic MuseumDriving by this historic building I had no idea what to expect. I knew it was a museum, but didn't realize it had art in it also. The art is interesting, yet I wasn't expecting it, so it through me. There was a wide variety of 3-dimensional, bright colored art that I've never seen before as the main attraction. I thought I had made a mistake and entered an art gallery. The signage isn't as bold as I think it needs to be to direct you to the various displays, although the signage is "vintage" in style to fit into the building. Maybe that is the issue, it didn't stand out. I enjoyed seeing the carriage and ship displays. I think the jail was one of the better displays since I haven't seen fully outfitted jails to get an image of what it would have been like to have been in one. The museum is definitely something to see to get a sense of life in Port Townsend "back when" yet I'm not sure I would go back to it as compared to most other museums I visit. Sorry folks. I don't like to give average reviews, but this is the best that is truthful in my opinion.
- budzilla00Good introduction to Port TownsendAn excellent starting point if you're new to the area. A short film gives you an overview of the Victorian seaport, and the displays help flesh it out. Once a gritty, hard-drinking town where you were just as likely to be shanghaied as not, to what is now one of the nicest small towns in Washington, Port Townsend was important to the development of the Puget Sound area.
- Freedom2916135642500Less info now than in the pastSupport the museum even though the displays are down, not sure if just for winter months or lack of volunteers.
- Steve C00History of this great Port TownAmazing building! Really cool and informative film about the area to start, and then a fun self guided tour. The jail is the best part. You gotta feel how heavy the shackles are. Very nice man and super sweet young girl tending when we visited. Very friendly! Mom and I had a really good time here. Don't miss this gem when in the awesome Port Townsend.
- Lorisays-so00Worth the timeEnjoyed the short movie, the old jail and the museum. Inexpensive and worth the time. Would recommend.
- Patti470900Knowledgeable folks here and interesting displaysLove to stop here and see what’s different - their art shows are always excellent and the history displays are good too. People here know a great deal about the area so it is a good place to stop.
- withMrWonderful00Great small town museumThis is a fabulous little small town museum that showcases the history of the area, it's people and the original natives. The building is the original courthouse, firehouse, police station and jail. The short movie at the start was informative. Lots of original photos and descriptions in each area.
- Linda C00Don't miss the jail!Downstairs (there's an elevator) is a sobering jail; the first cell has a ball and chain and a metal door to pass food through. I cannot imagine having to spend any time locked up in it. There's also an interesting room about PT's "Ladies of the Night." Upstairs are artifacts from the area (old horsedrawn hearse and cab, desk, chairs, cradle, tools, household items, etc. One room was showcasing the nice paintings of a local artist. It's best to see the 7 min. film at the very beginning and take time to look at the building itself. If you're planning to see the other PT museums, a combo ticket will save you money, but make sure they'll be open when you want to see them.
- Teresa M00So much to seeThis is an awesome, historic location and unique, because it is still being used in city government. There is always an art exhibit combined with much interesting history of the area, exhibits, and even the old jail of Port Townsend. The museum staff is always friendly and helpful, ready with information or to answer questions. Higly recommend this stop on your visit to Port Townsend.
- James B00Excellent history of Port TownsendLocated in the original city hall and jail, now refurbished and operated by the historical society. The city council still meets on the second floor. First and basement floors dedicated to a really well constructed history tour and art museum.
- NancyV88300Local history at its bestFor a town of 9000, Port Townsend can boast a bit about its history and culture. Although not a large museum, the displays are well deisgned and filled with local color. In addition, there are monthly exhibits that provide more insight about items of special interest. During the summer months, the museum offers downtown walking tours on Saturday afternoons to give visitors a snapshot of more than 150 years of fascinating history. Uptown tours of the Rothschild house detail the family history of the late 1800's.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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Joaquin H
Chapala, Mexico50 contributions
Apr 2019
Enjoyed walking the historic downtown part of Port Townsend. Some interesting cafes and restaurants. I am not one that gravitates to sites however with punk types, partially shaved heads, rings in noses, tattoos galore, and sloppy dress, guys wearing mascara. Not as I recall from years ago when more enjoyable. This time we encountered some stoic characters in stores and cafes, clerks and owners like cardboard cutouts, not that welcoming in their demeanors.
Written May 26, 2019
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