Port Gamble
Port Gamble is a community on the Kitsap Peninsula in the Puget Sound of Washington state. The village streets haven't changed much since the 1800s. The original New England Victorian-style homes have been lovingly preserved, along with the several other historic buildings in the area. Since 1966 the Port Gamble Historic District is a registered U.S. National Historic Landmark and a popular destination for tourists.
Understand
Puget Mill Company founded the town in Washington Territory in 1853. In 1856, the USS Massachusetts was sent from Seattle to Port Gamble, where indigenous raiding parties from British and Russian territories had been raiding and enslaving local Native Americans. When the warriors refused to hand over those among them who had attacked the Puget Sound Native American communities, Massachusetts landed a shore party and a battle ensued in which 26 natives and 1 sailor were killed. That sailor was the first US Navy man killed in the Northwest and his grave can still be seen at the hilltop cemetery.
Get in
By car
Port Gamble is located along a bend in State Route 104.
- From Kingston, it is about 7 mi (11 km) northeast of the ferry terminal.
- From the Olympic Peninsula, it is 1 mi (1.6 km) east of the Hood Canal Bridge.
By boat
Although Port Gamble does not have a marina for motorized boats, it is a popular area for sea kayakers with easy access to the Hood Canal. It is the southern launching point for the Kitsap Peninsula Water trails leg from Port Gamble to Foulweather Bluff near Hansville.
Get around
The town is only a few blocks, everything can be reached by foot.
See
Port Gamble is a great place to go for a stroll and soak up the early mill town history of the area. The Port Gamble Historic District has several quaint shops to visit and is a registered U.S. National Historic Landmark and a popular destination for tourists.
Make sure you take a stroll up to the historic cemetery for a better sense of the history of the town and a sweeping view of the area.
- 1 Sea and Shore MuseumCategory:Has map markers, 32400 NE Rainier Ave (2nd floor of Port Gamble General Store), ☏ +1 360-297-7637. Daily 9AM-5PM. dedicated to the study of natural history, especially mollusks and other invertebrates and includes one of the largest sea shell collections in the world. Free.
Do
- 1 Kitsap Memorial State ParkCategory:Has map markers, 202 NE Park St., Poulsbo (5 mi SW of Port Gamble off WA-3 S), ☏ +1 360 779-3205. 8AM-dusk. A 58-acre camping park with 1,797 feet of saltwater shoreline and facilities for group and individual recreation, weddings and overnight stays. The park offers beautiful natural surroundings and sweeping views of Hood Canal.
- 2 Salsbury Point County ParkCategory:Has map markers, 3160 NW Wheeler St, ☏ +1 360 337-5350. 6.5 acres - Saltwater beach access, boat launch, fishing pier, restrooms, picnic shelter, and picnic area. Camping limited to Cascadia Marine Trail
Sea kayaking
Port Gamble is near Hood Canal which is a popular destination for sea kayakers. Sea kayaking can be a rewarding way to explore the sheltered bay near Port Gamble. Port Gamble is one of the many harbor towns that cater to kayakers with shops and restaurants accessible from the water.
- 3 Olympic Outdoor CenterCategory:Has map markers, 32379 Rainier Ave (in Port Gamble), ☏ +1 360-297-4659. It offers kayak rentals, classes and basic information for paddling the area for just a few hours or week long adventures.
Organized trails offer overnight camping options and maps of appropriate travel lengths and scenic travel destinations.
- Category:Do listing with no coordinatesCascadia Marine TrailCategory:Has map markers. This inland sea trail is a National Recreation Trail and designated one of only 16 National Millennium Trails by the White House. Suitable for day or multi-day trips, the Cascadia Marine Trail has over 50 campsites to visit. People can boat to the campsites from many public and private launch sites or shoreline trailheads including Hood Canal near Port Gamble.
- Category:Do listing with no coordinatesKitsap Peninsula Water TrailsCategory:Has map markers. The National Parks Service named this 'Trail of the Month' in the entire USA for the month of December 2012, PDF copies of the water trails map are available and Port Gamble is on the trail.
Buy
- 1 Port Gamble General StoreCategory:Has map markers, 32400 Rainier Ave NE, ☏ +1 360-297-7637. M-W 9AM-4PM, Th 9AM-8:30PM, F Sa 8AM-8:30PM, Su 8AM-4PM. The Port Gamble General Store and Cafe serves up nostalgia and good eats daily! Housed in the historic general store, this retail store and cafe also shares space with the Sea and Shore Museum and the Port Gamble Historic Museum.
- Category:Buy listing with no coordinatesTango Zulu ImportsCategory:Has map markers, 32319 Rainier Ave NE, ☏ +1 360-297-3030. Open 7 days a week, 10AM-5PM. A gift and apparel shop with unique handmade items from around the world. Items range from African baskets to Indian clothing to Nepalese housewares and more. Most items are priced below $50, with many products available for under $10.
Eat
- Category:Eat listing with no coordinatesPort Gamble CafeCategory:Has map markers, 32400 Rainier Ave NE, ☏ +1 360 297-7636. Cafe: M-W 9AM-3PM, Th 9AM-8:30PM, F Sa 8AM-8:30PM, Su 8AM-4PM; dinner: Th-Sa 5-8:30PM; Happy Hour: Th 3-5PM, F Sa 4-5PM. a full service restaurant at the back of the Port Gamble General Store and Cafe building
Sleep
- Category:Sleep listing with no coordinatesPort Gamble Guest HousesCategory:Has map markers, PO Box 233, ☏ +1 360-447-8473, info@portgambleguesthouse.com. three separate historic guest houses are available with access to the beach.
Go next
- The Olympic Peninsula is just across the Hood Canal Bridge.
- Kingston is an 8-minute drive to catch the Edmonds ferry.
| Routes through Port Gamble |
| END ← | N  S |
→ Poulsbo → Bremerton |
Ends at N  S ← Port Ludlow ← |
W  E |
→ Kingston → Edmonds |