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Historical Overview of the North Beach

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 abundant wildlife gave sustainance to local tribes, which have harvested salmon & razor clams, as well as bear, deer and elk, for many centuries.


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 Quinault River 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 rose from the forest floor just south of Pacific Beach. SEABROOK is 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 no longer Washington's Best Kept Secret.

 

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