History

In 1964, a group of community leaders and citizens concerned about the preservation of the Wawona founded the organization Save Our Ships. Later that same year, Save Our Ships successfully purchased the Wawona as an icon of the Northwest’s maritime history. In 1966, as the organization and its historic fleet grew, the name was changed to Northwest Seaport to reflect a broader mission.

Northwest Seaport acquired the Lightship No. 83 in 1968 and the Tugboat Arthur Foss in 1970, two vessels that were in 1989 designated National Historic Landmarks. Northwest Seaport has owned other historic and vintage vessels including the Schooner Wawona, the Ferryboat San Mateo, the Halibut Schooner Yakutat, the 1933 Fishing Troller Twilight, and several other boats.

Northwest Seaport is dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of maritime heritage of Puget Sound and the Northwest Coast, and to the development of maritime-based educational programs and opportunities for the community. This broad mission has involved its directors, staff, and volunteers in a long history of community and educational activities over its nearly five-decade-long history. Some of these activities include restoring the Arthur Foss to running condition, annual tugboat cruises in Puget Sound, reunions of cod fishermen aboard the Wawona, maritime music festivals and chantey sings, school tours and sleep-overs, and many thousands of on-board visitations.

Additionally, Northwest Seaport possesses an extensive archive of material related to its vessels and Northwest maritime history that has aided historic research and maritime authors.