Maritime Washington National Heritage Area launches interactive map

The newly established Maritime Washington National Heritage Area rolled out a network of resources on its website to celebrate Washington’s seaside culture. 

The heritage area consists of over 3,000 miles of shoreline managed by the nonprofit Washington Trust for Historic Preservation in partnership with the National Parks Service. Maritime Washington works with local groups to explore the unique stories of waterfront communities and find ways to showcase them.

After the U.S. Congress established the heritage area in 2019, the program launched earlier this year to bring awareness to communities that have long contributed to Pacific Northwest culture.

During the planning, program director Alex Gradwohl said community members and organizations from Blaine, Birch Bay and Point Roberts contributed helpful information about north Whatcom County maritime heritage.

“Since most of our planning efforts were done during Covid-19, we’re really looking forward to getting out into the community, including Blaine and Birch Bay, in person in the year to come,” she wrote in an email.

In addition to more information about the organization and ways to get involved, the website includes an interactive maritime map of destinations such as monuments, tribal centers, beaches and more. One of the 99 highlighted places on the map is Blaine’s Peace Arch Historical State Park. Also featured are Lily Point Marine Park in Point Roberts, the Whatcom Museum and Squalicum Harbor in Bellingham.

Another aspect of Maritime Washington’s work includes showcasing stories from the waterfront’s past and present, and self-directed travel itineraries catered to specific locations and interests like a four-day road trip revolving around Native American culture and a seafood journey through Bellingham.

“We know that the peoples and organizations along Washington’s saltwater shorelines can have limited opportunity to collaborate and celebrate their vibrant water-based cultures – often leaving Washington’s maritime heritage under-appreciated,” according to the Maritime Washington website, maritimewa.org.