PORT TOWNSEND — High school students from throughout the state will gather at Fort Worden on Tuesday for the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation’s ninth annual Youth Heritage Project.
The four-day educational program will culminate in students presenting storytelling projects about local history to a panel of experts at a town hall meeting at 1 p.m. Friday at Wheeler Theater, 210 Battery Way in Fort Worden.
The public is invited to hear the projects.
The students will work on projects with local partners to tell the stories of four historic or cultural sites: the Jefferson County Historical Society Museum, the Tamanowas Rock sanctuary, the Hastings Building in downtown Port Townsend and Officer’s Row at Fort Worden.
The 38 high school students and eight teachers/mentors are from 23 communities across the state including Bellevue, Camas, Centralia, Leavenworth, Mattawa, Oak Harbor, Olympia, Port Hadlock, Seattle, Tacoma, Vancouver and Wenatchee.
“The base location at Fort Worden State Historical Park offers student participants a unique opportunity to explore Port Townsend’s fascinating history, vibrant maritime culture and beautiful natural setting,” according to a press release.
Participants will learn about Fort Worden’s coastal military and natural history through a photo scavenger hunt, explore Point Hudson and the hidden history of downtown Port Townsend through walking tours, take to the water on longboats and learn about marine trades from local boat builders at the Northwest Maritime Center; and visit the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe’s campus in Blyn in Clallam County to learn from tribal members.
They will learn about the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the Maritime Washington National Heritage Area designated by Congress in 2019 and how to interpret natural, cultural and historic resources.
The Youth Heritage Project annually hosts high school students from across the state for the programs.
In working in partnership with the National Park Service and the state Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, the project is offered free of charge to students in the region.
Local partners include Fort Worden Hospitality, the Jefferson County Historical Society, Northwest Maritime Center, Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe and Port Townsend Main Street Program.
Funding was received from 4Culture, the Lummi Nation, Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians, Tulalip Tribes, Bassetti Architects, Pinchiff Mechanical, Pioneer Masonry Restoration Company, Swenson Say Fagét, Western Specialty Contractors, KGIP, MacDonald-Miller Facility Solutions, Marvin Anderson Architects, Nelson Electric, Richaven Architecture and Preservation, and Studio TJP.
