History of Bellingham

Bellingham is located just south of the Canadian-USA border in Washington and is the first major town visitors will encounter if they are entering from Canada. Situated along the ocean and with Mt Baker dominating the skyline behind, the Bellingham is quite scenic and offers a range or recreational opportunities in the surrounding area.

When Captain George Vancouver sailed into Puget Sound in 1792, he named a large northern bay Bellingham Bay in honor of Sir William Bellingham. Sir Bellingham of England had assisted Vancouver by providing supplies for the trip.

Many years later in 1852 the first settlement was built along Bellingham Bay. Captain Henry Roeder and Russell Peabody of San Francisco were searching for a place to build a sawmill. This sawmill was to be run by waterpower. They needed a strong waterfall to provide energy for the mill's saws. Chief Cha-wit-zit of the Lummi Tribe took them to a waterfall now known as Whatcom Falls. A sawmill was built at the foot of the falls in 1853.

William Prattle arrived in the area in1853 and was interested in finding coal. Working with information from the Lummi Tribe, he found coal and opened the Sehome Mine. The mine was a source of employment for many people in the region for the next 25 years.

In 1858 a gold rush in Canada along the Fraser River brought between 75,000 to 100,000 people to the Washington border with Canada. Ten thousand miners camped in tents next to Bellingham Bay. Here they prepared for the trip up Canada's Fraser River. After a while the Canadian government required all miners to get permits in the town of Victoria across Puget Sound. This caused most miners to leave the Bellingham area.

The Lummi tribe of Native Americans lived in the Bellingham Bay area. In 1855 the tribe moved to a reservation. Unfriendly Canadian tribes would come into the area and cause trouble for the Lummi tribe. In order to protect the Lummi people and to keep out the Canadian tribes, United States soldiers were brought into the area in 1856. Captain George Pickett and his men built Fort Bellingham. Captain Pickett also built a home for his family on Bancroft Street in 1856. This home still stands as the oldest home in Bellingham.

Before 1903 there were four settlements on Bellingham Bay. They were Whatcom, New Whatcom, Sehome and Fairhaven. In 1903 they came together to form the city of Bellingham. At this time there were eight major sawmills and shingle mills in the area and four salmon canneries. Bellingham had the largest sawmill as well as the largest salmon cannery in the early 1900's.

Tourist Attractions in Bellingham

Chuckanut Drive
Chuckanut Drive is a scenic route from Bellingham to Skagit Valley. Although Interstate 5 is a much faster alternative, taking Chuckanut Drive is well worth the time. This route allows visitors a chance to see the small towns and farmland, as well as providing beautiful views out over the the San Juan Islands

Cruises
Cruises from Bellingham take visitors on an incredibly scenic tour through the San Juan Islands, or on a Bay Tour. Cruises leave from Squalicum Harbor. Whale watching tours are also available.

Marine Life Center
The Marine Life Center offers visitors a chance to see what lurks beneath the ocean. The center showcases marine life from the Washington area. Touch pools offer an up close and more personal experience.

Maritime Heritage Park
Maritime Heritage Park in Bellingham is a beautiful green space in the city. With Whatcom Creek running through it, the park offers abundant salmon fishing opportunities. An education path also provides information on salmon.

Mindport Exhibits
The Mindport is a unique museum designed to stimulate thought and provoke the mind. Exhibits offer science like displays, creative opportunities, play and fun activites, all geared towards education. It is a great play for families.

Roeder Home
Located at the end of Sunset Drive in Bellingham, the Roeder Home is an early 20th Century house, that during it's day, was ahead of it's time with modern features. Today the Roeder Home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is used as a cultural arts center for the Bellingham community.

Sehome Hill Arboretum
In association with the Western Washington University, the city of Bellingham this 180 acre forest habitat. Walk trails run through this natural area that supports a wide variety of native plants and trees.

Squalicum Harbor
Squalicum Harbor is the main marina servicing Bellingham. Both commercial and personal boats are docked here and cruises of the Bay and San Juan Islands leave from Squalicum Harbor.

Western Washington University Outdoor Sculpture Collection
Located throughout the Western Washington University campus are a number of sculptures, created by both local and international artists. The Outdoor Sculpture Collection can be seen on a walking tour of the campus.