Fort Townsend

Barracks at Fort Townsend circa 1885 (University of Washington Archive)

Fort Townsend (1856-1861) (1874-1895) - Fort Townsend was built in 1856 by the U.S. Army for the protection of settlers. Timbers were hewn and laths cut from the forests of the vicinity. In 1859 troops were sent from the fort to assist in the San Juan Island boundary dispute commonly known as "The Pig War." The fort was closed between 1859 and 1874 for being "unfit," after an inspection by the commander of the army headquarters in Columbia. Brought back to life in 1874, the fort thrived until 1895 when fire - started by an exploding kerosene lamp - destroyed the barracks. The fort was decommissioned but was used during World War II as an enemy munitions defusing station. In 1958 it was turned over to the State Parks Commission.

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Location: On the Olympic Peninsula, approximately two miles south of Port Townsend. Maps & Images Lat: 48.07628 Long: -122.78789 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation:

Links:

• Old Fort Townsend State Park
• Yahoo Map

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  Fort Townsend Barracks Interior circa 1885 (University of Washington Archive)
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  Guardhouse at Fort Townsend circa 1885 (University of Washington Archive)