A
treasure trove of history, the North Beach coast of Grays Harbor
County has been home to the Quinaults for thousands of years. The
abundant sealife, wildlife and natural beauty makes this part of
the Washington coast a true gem.
The Quinaults made good use of the land and shore. Several villages
once dotted the area but now Queets and Taholah are all that remain.
The first people of the North Beach made baskets, clothing and canoes
from the bountiful vegetation.
The first Europeans to land here in 1775 were the Spaniards. They and
several explorers prior failed to actually discover Grays Harbor. In
1792, Captain Robert Gray of Boston not only discovered Grays Harbor
but also the mighty Columbia River.
In 1804, President Thomas Jefferson formed an expedition with William
Clark and Meriweather Lewis at the helm to explore the vast wilderness
from Missouri to the Pacific Ocean. This event opened the floodgates
for settlement.
In 1855, the Olympia Treaty was signed by Chief Taholah of the Quinault
Nation. This created the Quinault Indian Reservation that forms a triangle-shaped
boundary with the Pacific Ocean and Lake Quinault.
The first white settlers came to the North Beach in the mid-1800's.
Many homesteaded with 160 acres of fine timber. Life was harsh but
rewarding. Around 1900, the signs of "civilization" began
to emerge from the forests. Tourism, razor clams, fishing and timber
are what built these towns. Many hotels, schools, canneries and shingle
mills sprang up overnight. Class schedules for the local schools were
based on the clamming tides. The Northern Pacific Railroad extended
its line to Moclips making it the farthest west terminus.
The U.S. Navy and Air Force made Pacific Beach their home during World
War II. The Navy still occupies property along the bluff in Pacific
Beach - now a recreational use center for the military.
In 1960, a second wave of tourism began with the inception of Ocean
Shores Estates. According to yearly polls by Evening Magazine, this
resort town is consistently near the top of places to visit being number
two behind Seattle.
In 2004, a new seaside village will rise from the forest floor just
south of Pacific Beach. SEABROOK will be the newest and most thoughtfully
designed coastal community on the entire coast.
The history of the North Beach is amazing, sometimes downright incredible.
We encourage you to explore this website and visit the Museum of the
North Beach to learn what others have already known - this is Washington's
Best Kept Secret.
