New Online Tool to Make Exploring the Northwest’s Maritime History Easy

A new Northwest maritime history web search tool makes it easy to find out where explorers first landed, where native canoes came ashore, where maritime artifacts are stored and where the region's nationally registered historic vessels are home ported.

, along with other members of the Pacific Northwest Maritime Heritage Council and the maritime news website Three Sheets Northwest, have jointly launched the Northwest Maritime Heritage site. The online resource allows users to quickly find all of the region's historic ships, lighthouses, maritime museums and events to help them explore the region’s nautical past.

“The new site will make it easier for patrons here at Harbor History Museum to discover all the other amazing maritime heritage sites in our region, and for those who don’t yet know about our award winning museum to find us,” said Sue Loiland, Executive Director of the Harbor History Museum. “This new effort, created with our fellow maritime museums, historic ships and other maritime sites, is designed to help better inform and educate the public about the Northwest’s maritime history and at the same time use technology to help increase regional tourism.”

The new site is powered by Three Sheets Northwest, the region’s only website providing daily boating news, views and community. The Northwest Maritime Heritage site provides multiple ways for visitors to find and engage with the vast number of places, attractions, vessels and organizations that provide the foundation of the Northwest’s thriving maritime heritage and culture. The site features a powerful search tool, maps showing the location of heritage sites and easy-to-browse categories of maritime attractions, organizations and vessels throughout the Northwest.   

“It’s estimated that more than half a million people visit Northwest Maritime heritage sites, maritime museums, historic vessels, lighthouses and other locations in British Columbia, Washington and Oregon every year,” said Les Bolton, Executive Director of the Grays Harbor Historical Seaport Authority, and one of the co-chairs of the Pacific Northwest Maritime Heritage Council. “This new online search tool is designed to make it easier for people to find the exact type of maritime heritage site or vessel that appeal to them.” 

“The site is easy to navigate, allowing the user to search by the type of attraction they are interested in,” said Bryan Klassen, Director of the Britannia Heritage Shipyard in Richmond, British Columbia, and another co-chair of the Pacific Northwest Maritime Heritage Council. “Tourists from B.C. to Oregon will be able to use this new tool to find new maritime heritage sites that they might not otherwise know about, and plan visits.”

There is no charge to use the new search tool at www.threesheetsnw.com/maritimeheritage and anyone interested is encouraged to log in today to reconnect with more of their maritime history.

About Harbor History Museum:  The Gig Harbor Peninsula Historical Society dba Harbor History Museum was founded in 1964, and opened a museum in 1973. The Society moved in to its new 14,500 square foot facility in September 2010. The mission of the Harbor History Museum is to create opportunities to experience the heritage of the greater Gig Harbor communities. It does this by collecting, preserving, and sharing this area’s history. The museum is open Wednesday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Sunday 12-4 p.m., except major holidays.

About the Pacific Northwest Maritime Heritage Council:  For more than 25 years, the Pacific Northwest Maritime Heritage Council has worked cooperatively to protect and promote the stories of the boats, ships, explorers, tribes and others who have made the Northwest the place that it is today. The Council is made up of those museums, historic vessels, historic societies, lighthouses, historians and historic sites that together tell the complete story of where we come from.

About Three Sheets Northwest: Three Sheets Northwest is the region’s only website providing daily local boating news, views and community. Launched in 2009 by two former Seattle Times and Seattle Post-Intelligencer newspaper reporters, Three Sheets Northwest is updated every day and features a wide range of stories by and for local boaters. The site is a community news partner with the Seattle Times.