Views of Sequim, the Olympic Peninsula. . .and beyond
Lest you think Fort Flagler is just about military history, here’s another view, taken from the beach at Marrowstone Point, the tip of Marrowstone Island, where the fort is located. This is taken on one of those glorious Pacific Northwest days when all is right with the world. In the distance to the right of the sailboat is Mount Rainier.
Yesterday I showed you parts of Battery Calwell at Fort Flagler State Park. Today’s view is of “FS9”, or Fire Station 9, a former gun emplacement along the bluff overlooking Port Townsend Bay. The structure is open to the sky and a metal grillwork has been placed over the top, likely with an eye toward visitor safety. The play of light and shadow created wonderful patterns.
Fort Flagler State Park is a historic military installation about an hour from Sequim. Constructed beginning in 1897, it was one of three forts responsible for protecting the Puget Sound area from foreign invasion. A military presence continued here until 1953 and it became part of the state park system in 1955.
Battery Calwell, shown here, is within walking distance of a campground that’s located steps from a spectacular scenic beach. Coming upon this battery at the edge of the woods on a bluff overlooking Puget Sound felt oddly like coming upon an archaeological ruin. Despite the concrete and iron that comprised its flesh and bones it seemed very ancient and a little alien, particularly since I’ve been blessedly removed from war-making.
Huge circular structures that once housed enormous guns are now filled with a scruff of weeds. The guns were removed in 1917 and shipped to Europe for use during World War 1.
Battery Calwell is named after Captain James H. Calwell, a fallen Mexican-American War soldier who died in 1847.
The tide was coming in as we explored the Salt Creek Recreation Area recently (see yesterday’s post). But my husband the fisherman couldn’t resist showing the size of some of the mussels in one of the tide pools. This one went back into the water; I suspect that gathering dinner from the pools here is a no-no. But to look at the marine life along the coast it’s hard to imagine the native peoples ever went hungry.
Salt Creek Recreation Area is a county park located about an hour west of Sequim and set on a spectacular piece of the coastline of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. There is access to vibrant tide pools as well as beautiful campsites. Nearby World War II bunkers appeal to history buffs.
The tide came in as we explored the marine garden here. That’s Vancouver Island, B.C. in the distance. On a clear day like this you can see how close we are to Canada.
In reading about Memorial Park I learned that it was originally a cemetery early in the last century and eventually became neglected and overgrown. When it was decided that the land would be reclaimed, graves were dug up and relocated. But not every resident of the graveyard had a survivor who could approve relocation. In the end there were some remains that could not be moved. These were moved to a “quiet corner” of the park, which I sought out on my visit.
As you can see, the park closely borders a residential area. And this little garden borders the park’s cemetery.
This is what’s left of the cemetery, taken through a wire fence. It’s not a feature of the park that a visitor might stumble into, nor expect. But knowing its history I find it a unique thread back into Sequim’s past.
In reading about Memorial Park I learned that it was originally a cemetery early in the last century and eventually became neglected and overgrown. When it was decided that the land would be reclaimed, graves were dug up and relocated. But not every resident of the graveyard had a survivor who could approve relocation. In the end there were some remains that could not be moved. These were moved to a “quiet corner” of the park, which I sought out on my visit.
As you can see, the park closely borders a residential area. And this little garden borders the park’s cemetery.
This is what’s left of the cemetery, taken through a wire fence. It’s not a feature of the park that a visitor might stumble into, nor expect. But knowing its history I find it a unique thread back into Sequim’s past.