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With thousands of acres of forest and miles of coastline, Port Gamble is a recreational paradise. Originally inhabited by the Nux Sklai Yem or Strong People, these descendants of the Salish people are now known as the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe. Today, Port Gamble is a charming, quaint town in North Kitsap, but for over 100 years, it was a company town with a busting sawmill. In fact, during WWII, 90% of the mill’s lumber went to the armed forces, with 60% used to build housing on several Washington Naval bases.
Step Back in Time
No matter where you go in Port Gamble, history surrounds you. The New England-style homes have been lovingly maintained to showcase their charm, and you’ll find plaques on fences outside many buildings highlighting their original owners and purposes. If you want to dive deeper, the Port Gamble Museum is full of memorabilia and artifacts, including a land-purchase document signed by President Lincoln and a replica of an Indigenous home. Many Native people were employed at the mill throughout the years, and the museum also showcases some of their history. You will also learn the mill’s history, which operated from 1853 to 1995 and shipped lumber as far as Brazil and Puerto Rico.
Museum Hours: May to September, Thursday to Sunday, 12:00 – 5:00 PM. Also available to rent.
The Bay
Port Gamble Bay played an integral part in the mill’s operations during its time but now serves as home to some of the most nutrient-rich waters of Puget Sound. This secluded area of water is the perfect location for viewing bioluminescence during the summer months. Olympic Outdoor Center offers guided nighttime tours from May to September, as well as daytime wildlife kayak tours as well. You can also rent kayaks to explore year-round (weather permitting). Additionally, Port Gamble Bay is a stop on the Kitsap Peninsula Water Trails system, which has over 100 public access points throughout the peninsula.
The Trails
Port Gamble Forest Heritage Park has dozens of multi-use trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. The mountain biking trails alone total 49 miles. Also known as Stottlemeyer, this trail system is a club favorite of the Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance and has a few annual mountain biking events. You’ll see folks of all ages on these trails in all weather. Don’t have a bike of your own? Not to worry; you can rent from the Olympic Outdoor Center.
Learn more about a great organization that helps maintain these trails.
Out of This World
The Walker Ames House is the perfect backdrop for the annual Port Gamble Ghost Conference in early November. It’s known as the most haunted house in Washington. Port Gamble hosts Ghost Walks many evenings from October to April and has a unique summer schedule. These walks are a great way to learn about Port Gamble’s history from town manager Pete Obera, also known as Paranormal Pete.
In March 2024, Pete Obera gave us a private tour of Port Gamble with our friends at Visit Kitsap Peninsula. We learned so much and used the book Pope Resources, Rooted in the Past, Growing for the Future for further research. It is available at the Sylvan Way branch of Kitsap Regional Library and the Port Gamble Historic Museum.
