History at Port Angeles

Clallam County, Washington

Port Angeles, Clallam County, WA
This historical scene of Port Angeles, Clallam County, Washington, was photographed in the early 1900's, looking north along Laurel Street. The port was originally named Puerto de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles by Spanish explorer Francisco de Eliza y Reventa in 1791. Several wagons can be seen out in front of the Livery and Feed Stable, and City Fish Market, at the foot of the west side of the Morse Dock. South of the City Fish Market is the 2½ -story Merchants Hotel, on the northwest corner of the intersection of Laurel Street and Front Street. The Merchants Hotel was previously named the Olympian House. The steamer ferry S.S. Whatcom can be seen heading east from the Morse Dock. The location of the Morse Dock was filled in 1914 and it is now the landing for the ferry M.V. Coho, which goes to Victoria, Canada. The Ediz Hook Lightstation buildings can also be seen in the upper right portion of the photograph, out near the horizon.


Port Angeles, Clallam County, WA
This scene, photographed in 1906, is also looking north along Laurel Street, but from the street level. Many of the same buildings can be seen in these first two photographs. Visible from left to right are a blacksmith's shop, a steam laundry, a bazaar, the Merchants Hotel, the City Fish Market, a livery and feed stable, the Morse Dock, a clothing store, and a shoe store. In 1906, Laurel Street was unpaved and used more by horse drawn buggies and wagons than by automobiles.


Port Angeles, Clallam County, WA
This scene, photographed by 1910, is looking east along Front Street, from the southwest corner of the intersection of Front Street and Laurel Street. The man shown near the right edge of the photograph is walking across Laurel Street, which crosses Front Street in the foreground of this photograph. When this scene was photographed, the downtown city streets were still dirt roads, and the sidewalks were wooden boardwalks. Note the dog lying in the middle of Front Street. Times were definitely much slower paced back then!


Port Angeles, Clallam County, WA
This scene, also photographed by about 1910, is looking east along Front Street. The parade is likely a Flag Day celebration organized by the Port Angeles Elks Lodge No. 353. In 1907, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (B.P.O.E.) was first to designate June 14 as Flag Day. Over a half dozen American flags can be seen in this photograph, and some of the buildings along the parade route are also decorated with pleated fan banners and bunting, undoubtedly in patriotic red, white, and blue colors. The sign banner hanging over Front Street, at what appears to be the start of the parade route, says “Naval Lodge B.P.O.E. 353”. The next sign banner hanging over the parade route says “Ball Game Today 3 p.m. Tacoma - Angeles”. The tall power pole shown to the right of the top center of the photograph is on the northwest corner of the intersection of Front Street and Laurel Street. The Merchants Hotel can also be seen on this same street corner. The two-story building with the awning, across Laurel Street to the east from the Merchants Hotel, was at the time of the photograph, the Kirschberg Clothing Company. The same clothing store can also be seen on the far left side of the previous photograph.

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Home Andrew Craig Magnuson
Forks, Washington
March 7, 2005