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 Tah
olah 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.
