Whatcom County, Washington
Aftermath Clubhouse
Austin Pass Warming Hut
Axtell, Dr. William H. and Frances C., House
B. P. O. E. Building
Bacon, George H., House
Barlow Building
Beaver Pass Shelter
Bellingham City Hall
Bellingham Herald Building
Bellingham National Bank Building
Berthusen Barn and Privy
Black, Alfred L., House
Boundary Marker No. 1
Broadway Park Historic District
Cissna Cottages Historic District
Copper Mountain Fire Lookout
Daylight Building
Deer Lick Cabin
Desolation Peak Lookout
Devil's Corner Cliff Walk
Diablo Hydroelectric Power Plant
Donovan, J. J., House
Downtown Bellingham Historic District
Eldridge Avenue Historic District
Eldridge Homesite and Mansion
Fairhaven Historic District
Fairhaven Library
Fish and Game-Hozomeen Cabin
Flatiron Building
Gamwell House
Glacier Ranger Station
Gorge Hydroelectric Power Plants
Great Northern Passenger Station
Hotel Laube
Hovander Homestead
Immanuel School of Industries-Department of Public Welfare
International Boundary US-Canada
Koma Kulshan Ranger Station
Larrabee House
Leopold Hotel
Lynden Department Store
Middle Fork Nooksack River Bridge
Montague and McHugh Building
Morse Hardware Company Building
Morse, Robert I., House
Mount Baker Theatre
MV PLOVER (ferry)
Nooksack Falls Hydroelectric Power Plant
Oakland Block
Old Main, Western Washington State College
Orchard Terrace Apartments
Park Butte Lookout
Peace Arch
Perry Creek Shelter
Pickett House
Richards, T.G., and Company Store
Roeder, Victor A., House
Roth, Lottie, Block
Sanitary Meat Market
Sehome Hill Historic District
Skagit River and Newhalem Creek Hydroelectric Projects
Skagit River and Newhalem Creek Hydroelectric Projects (Boundary Increase)
Sourdough Mountain Lookout
South Hill Historic District
U.S. Post Office and Courthouse
US Post Office-Lyden Main
Wardner, James F., House
Washington Grocery Company Warehouse
Whatcom Museum of History and Art
Winchester Mountain Lookout
York Historic District
Young Women's Christian Association
A Park From the People
Bellingham bloomed during its Tulip Festival in the 1920s
Bellingham grew up along its streetcar lines
Bellingham Public Market Had Everything Under One Roof!
Chain of Dams
Charles X. Larrabee
Commercial Point Shipyard
Counterfeiters' Hide Out
Daylighting Padden Creek
Downtown was the hub of commercial activity
Early Bellingham Bay
Electric Forest
Fairhaven
Fairhaven Canning Company
Gorge High Dam
Gorge Powerhouse
It Takes A Community
Lighting of the Falls
Metasequoia glyptostroboides (Dawn Redwood)
Northwest Shipbuilding Company
Old Telegraph Road
Original Inhabitants of the Area
Pacific American Fisheries
Performance Theater in Bellingham
Phoebe Goodell Judson
Pickett Bridge
Point Roberts Boundary Marker
Samuel Longhorne Clemens (Mark Twain)
Schooner Zodiac
Site of Puget Sound Sawmills and Shingle Company
The 1909 Fairhaven Empress Tree
The Great Water Fight
The Legacy of Byron Elmendorf
The North Cascades
Town Pillory
Transmission Lines
Washington State's Oldest Brick Building
Welcome to Ladder Creek Falls & Gardens
In the 19th century, explorers and traders, such as Captain George Vancouver and Joseph Whidbey, arrived in the area and began to establish trading relationships with the indigenous peoples. The arrival of European settlers in the mid-1800s brought significant changes to the region. In 1852, the first permanent settlement, known as Whatcom, was established. It quickly grew as more settlers arrived and established farms, sawmills, and businesses.
The discovery of gold in the Fraser River in neighboring British Columbia in 1858 led to a surge in population as many hopeful miners passed through Whatcom County on their way to the goldfields. This resulted in the rapid growth of towns like Bellingham and Ferndale as supply centers for the miners. However, the gold rush had a disruptive impact on the indigenous populations and led to conflicts and displacement.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Whatcom County became an important center for logging and the timber industry. The opening of rail lines and the establishment of sawmills played a crucial role in the economic development of the region. Today, Whatcom County continues to be a thriving area, with a diverse economy, stunning natural beauty, and a rich cultural heritage that celebrates its indigenous roots and pioneer history.
Brief timeline of the history of Whatcom County, Washington:
- 1852 - The area is first explored by Europeans.
- 1853 - The settlement of Whatcom is established.
- 1858 - Whatcom County is created by the Washington Territorial Legislature.
- 1871 - The establishment of Bellingham, a city within Whatcom County.
- 1883 - The Great Northern Railway reaches Whatcom County, contributing to its growth.
- 1903 - Western Washington University is founded in Bellingham.
- 1960s - The decline of the timber industry leads to economic diversification in the county.
- 2003 - The creation of the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.
This timeline provides a glimpse into the major events and milestones that have shaped the history of Whatcom County, Washington.