Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Name Game
Founded in the 1850s by Amos Bowman, Anacortes was named after Bow-
man's wife, Annie Curtis, but over the years the spelling and pronunciation
were slowly corrupted to its current Spanish-sounding pronunciation (in
keeping with such local Spanish names as San Juan, Lopez, and Guemes).
VISITOR INFORMATION
For information on Anacortes, contact the
Ana-
cortes Chamber of Commerce,
819 Commercial Ave., Anacortes, WA 98221
(
&
360/293-3832;
www.anacortes.org).
EXPLORING ANACORTES
If you want to learn more about local history, stop by the
Anacortes Museum,
1305 Eighth St. (
&
360/293-1915;
www.anacorteshistorymuseum.org),
housed in a former Carnegie Library. It's open Thursday through Monday from
1 to 5pm; admission is a suggested $2 donation. Across the street from the
museum is
Causland Memorial Park,
the town's most unusual attraction. Built
in 1919 to honor servicemen who died in World War I, the park contains rock
walls that were constructed as giant mosaics. It's a piece of folk art that reflects
a much simpler era.
Murals
are a mainstay of the Northwest's historic towns,
and here in Anacortes they take the shape of more than 50 life-size cutouts of
the town's forefathers. The murals, based on historic photos, were done by artist
Bill Mitchell.
Any walking tour of downtown should be sure to include a visit to the his-
toric
W. T. Preston
Snagboat,
703 R Ave. (
&
360/293-1916
), a sternwheeler
that was built in the 1890s to clear log jams on Puget Sound and now sits on
dry land in a little park at the corner of Seventh Street and R Avenue. June
through August, the sternwheeler is open daily from 11am to 5pm; April, May,
and September, it's open on weekends only. Admission is $2 adults and $1 for
seniors and children ages 6 to 16. Next door, at the corner of Seventh Street and
R Avenue, is
The Depot Arts Center
(
&
360/293-3663;
www.depotartscenter.
com), a restored 1911 railway depot that now serves as an arts center, with a col-
lection of art by regional artists.
For a glimpse of an old-fashioned hardware store, stop by
Marine Supply
and Hardware Co.,
202 Commercial St. (
&
360/293-3014
), which is the old-
est continuously operating marine supply store on the West Coast.
Nature lovers can head to
Washington Park,
just a short distance past the
ferry terminal. The park contains not only a campground and several miles of
hiking trails, but tranquil
Sunset Beach,
which looks out across Rosario Strait
to the San Juan Islands. For even more spectacular views, head up to
Mount
Erie Park
on the summit of 1,270-foot Mount Erie. From here, on a clear
day you can see Mount Rainier, Mount Baker, and the Olympic Mountains.
You'll find this park by heading south out of Anacortes on Commercial Avenue,
turning right on 32nd Street and then left on H Avenue (which becomes Heart
Lake Rd.), and then taking Erie Mountain Drive to the top of the mountain.
You don't have to go all the way to the San Juans if you want to do some
whale-watching. Orca-viewing excursions are offered by
Island Adventures
(
&
800/465-4604
or 360/293-2428; www.islandadventurecruises.com), which
