Anacortes

Images of America: Washington

by Bret Lunsford

Located on the north shore of Fidalgo Island in Washington State's Puget Sound, Anacortes was founded by railroad surveyor Amos Bowman and named in honor of his wife, Anna Curtis; they promoted Anacortes as the "New York of the West." Thousands of years prior to the 1890s boom and bust, Fidalgo Island was--and still is--home to the Samish and the Swinomish tribes. White settlers arriving in the 1850s established farms and eventually wood mills, salmon canneries, and a vital downtown waterfront, transforming Anacortes into the "salmon-canning capital of the world" by the early 20th century. Japanese and Chinese cannery workers and Croatian and Scandinavian fishermen were among the many immigrants who brought their unique ways to the island. As a port town, Anacortes retained an open and adventuresome spirit, attracting new arrivals and visitors with the stunning natural beauty of the Northwest frontier. Commercial fishermen still ply local waters alongside a thriving maritime industry, whale-watching ecotourism, and a tradition of creative festivity.

Genres: History, Travel

128 pages, Paperback

First published June 29, 2009

About the author

Bret Lunsford is a founding member of the bands Beat Happening and D+. In addition to his own musical endeavors, Lunsford operates the loose collective of Knw-Yr-Own, an independent record and book maker based in his hometown of Anacortes, Washington. He is also a writer of history, author of “Croatian Fishing Families of Anacortes” and editor of “Lance Burdon: A Photographic Journey” and “Pictures of the Past: Celebrating 125 Years of Anacortes History.” He is currently the director at the Anacortes Museum.