Whatcom County has many distinguishing traits: stunning surroundings from mountains to sea, northwesternmost factors within the contiguous United States, and statewide document numbers of golf programs and drive-up espresso stands. For all its wonders, it’s no surprise Whatcom County has been featured in a number of roadside attraction guides.
“Roadside sights” differ from customary journey information fare. They might be avant-garde artwork, historic curiosities, eccentric characters, and different offbeat oddities bestowing a singular spirit of place. Guides akin to Atlas Obscura, Roadside America, and Washington Curiosities, by Harriet Baskas, can paved the way.
Many roadside attraction guides recount experiences you’ll be able to’t go to. Bizarre Washington, by Al Eufrasio and Jefferson Dale Davis, describes Bellingham and Seattle’s windshield-pitting epidemic of April 1954: a suspected mass panic. Haunted Washington, by Adam Woog, particulars favourite ghost looking (and haunting) grounds at Mount Baker Theatre, Bayview Cemetery, and extra. Washington Curiosities lists two former Fairhaven options: James Wardner’s legendary black cat ranch and the late Gordy Tweit’s museum within the preserved Fairhaven Pharmacy constructing.
Let’s take a experience alongside the highways, byways, and backroads of the I-5 hall and see what wonders await.
The Metropolis of Subdued Pleasure
SPARK Museum of Electrical Invention is considered one of Bellingham’s hottest vacationer locations, showing in Atlas Obscura, Washington Curiosities, and Roadside America. SPARK began informally in 1985 with Jonathan Winters’ assortment of radio and tv paraphernalia. In 2001, John Jenkins added his assortment of electronics and books on electrical energy relationship again to 1560. Guests can see the “MegaZapper” Tesla coil, authentic Edison lightbulbs, and a duplicate of the Titanic’s radio room.
rewrite this title Oddities Off the Crushed Path: Whatcom County in Roadside Attraction Guides
Summarize this content material to 100 phrases
Whatcom County has many distinguishing traits: stunning surroundings from mountains to sea, northwesternmost factors within the contiguous United States, and statewide document numbers of golf programs and drive-up espresso stands. For all its wonders, it’s no surprise Whatcom County has been featured in a number of roadside attraction guides.
“Roadside sights” differ from customary journey information fare. They might be avant-garde artwork, historic curiosities, eccentric characters, and different offbeat oddities bestowing a singular spirit of place. Guides akin to Atlas Obscura, Roadside America, and Washington Curiosities, by Harriet Baskas, can paved the way.
Many roadside attraction guides recount experiences you’ll be able to’t go to. Bizarre Washington, by Al Eufrasio and Jefferson Dale Davis, describes Bellingham and Seattle’s windshield-pitting epidemic of April 1954: a suspected mass panic. Haunted Washington, by Adam Woog, particulars favourite ghost looking (and haunting) grounds at Mount Baker Theatre, Bayview Cemetery, and extra. Washington Curiosities lists two former Fairhaven options: James Wardner’s legendary black cat ranch and the late Gordy Tweit’s museum within the preserved Fairhaven Pharmacy constructing.
Let’s take a experience alongside the highways, byways, and backroads of the I-5 hall and see what wonders await.
The Metropolis of Subdued Pleasure
SPARK Museum of Electrical Invention is considered one of Bellingham’s hottest vacationer locations, showing in Atlas Obscura, Washington Curiosities, and Roadside America. SPARK began informally in 1985 with Jonathan Winters’ assortment of radio and tv paraphernalia. In 2001, John Jenkins added his assortment of electronics and books on electrical energy relationship again to 1560. Guests can see the “MegaZapper” Tesla coil, authentic Edison lightbulbs, and a duplicate of the Titanic’s radio room.
SPARK Museum is considered one of America’s largest museums devoted to radio, tv, and the historical past of electrical energy. They sponsor academic occasions, common reveals, and native radio. Picture credit score: Anna Diehl
For the curio crowd, Roadside America options the “Flash Gordon Rocket” at 306 West Holly Avenue. For practically 20 years, this illuminated Area Age-inspired sculpture adorned Rocket Donuts till its closure in 2019. Because the constructing prepares for brand new tenants, the rocket now accompanies a brand new mural.
Of Western Washington College’s internationally famend sculpture assortment, Atlas Obscura spotlights Nancy Holt’s 1978 “Stone Enclosure: Rock Rings.” Constructed from native schist, these traversable buildings align with the North Star and one another.
Atlas Obscura additionally explores the Fairhaven historic markers initially began by the Historic Fairhaven Affiliation and Tyrone Tillson in 1988. Over 50 plaques alongside Harris Avenue recount historic websites and episodes — some sensational, some mundane. They describe archaeological finds, Fairhaven’s “Wild West” saloon tradition, and morbid anecdotes of “unknown useless males” and a “metropolis drowning pool” for canines.
Fairhaven’s historic markers describe curious occasions ranging in dates from hundreds of years in the past to the early twentieth century. Picture credit score: Anna Diehl
Fourth Nook Countryside
As Washington Curiosities and Roadside America describe, Lynden is an sudden “Dutch Oasis” within the coronary heart of Whatcom County. A working four-story windmill is the centerpiece of Dutch Previous City, which options Dutch bakeries and outlets with conventional clothes. Guests can be taught extra concerning the area’s heritage at Lynden Pioneer Museum and the Holland Days pageant in Could.
Lynden’s Dutch historical past dates again to early founders and immigration within the nineteenth century. Picture credit score: Anna Diehl
Roadside America additionally notes that Sumas has a gold prospector statue on Cherry Avenue, lower than a mile from the Canadian border. In 1897, the city grew across the Mount Baker Gold Rush as prospectors handed by way of it on the way in which to Lone Jack Mine and different claims.
Cascadia
The crowning peak of Whatcom County tourism, Mount Baker holds a world document for essentially the most snowfall in a single 12 months. As Washington Curiosities describes, it acquired 1,140 inches of snow in 1999 — surpassing Mount Rainier’s 1,122 document from 1971-1972.
As a former mining area, the North Cascades at present see new prospectors: hobbyists on the hunt for ghost cities. Atlas Obscura describes how Barron, mendacity in break at present, boomed with gold miners for 2 years from 1894 to its sudden desertion. Guests to Hart’s Move at present may even see preserved and dilapidated cabins and mineshafts, heeding the non-public homeowners’ needs to depart the whole lot intact.
For formidable vacationers, Washington Curiosities recommends Ross Lake Resort. This distant lodge gives 15 cabins floating on log pallets over the water. Guests are suggested to succeed in Ross Lake by boat and produce their very own meals. From there, you’ll be able to get pleasure from climbing, fishing, and kayaking on the 20-mile lake.
Two Newhalem sights require guests to reenter Whatcom by way of Skagit County on State Route 20. Atlas Obscura and Roadside America describe the Temple of Energy: a Thirties industrial gazebo monument commemorating the corporate city’s historical past of offering electrical energy to Seattle. Atlas Obscura spotlights one other Seattle Metropolis Gentle creation: Ladder Creek Falls and Gardens, a backyard illuminated by LED bulbs for the reason that Nineteen Twenties.
The forty ninth Parallel
At Whatcom County’s border with Canada, two notable sights defy boundaries of native and worldwide character.
Washington Curiosities and Roadside America highlight Peace Arch Park in Blaine and Vancouver, BC. Devoted in 1921 by Samuel Hill, the monument commemorates 100 years of peace between the US and Canada. Guests could cross nationwide borders freely inside park boundaries.
The Peace Arch reads “Youngsters of a typical mom” on the American facet and “Brethren dwelling collectively in unity” on the Canadian facet. Picture credit score: Anna Diehl
Level Roberts stands apart as American land solely accessible by way of Canada. As Atlas Obscura and Washington Curiosities describe, the Oregon Treaty dividing nationwide boundaries alongside the forty ninth Parallel didn’t account for its 5 miles. Regardless of locals’ restricted entry to varsities and shops, they profit from summer season tourism and document low crime charges.
To find the best information of all, go journey on the open street!
