Historic Jefferson County: Fort Townsend, Fort Worden and Fort Flagler.

picture of fog over Fort Worden Things that would be good to bring along if you choose to check out these sites on your own:
  1. An exploring buddy
  2. Good tennis or hiking shoes. Sandals are not recommended.
  3. Flashlight, or better yet, a bicycle headlight. This is especially useful at Fort Worden for exploring the interiors.
  4. Sunscreen (especially at Fort Flagler)
  5. An extra overshirt. It can get surprisingly cool in some of the bunkers.

Fort Townsend predates the other forts, and was closed by the time the other two began operations. There isn't anything much remaining of the original structures. Most of them were made of wood and were destroyed when the fort burned down in 1895. The old fort site remained unused and vacant until World War Two when a torpedo defusing building was put in. This structure is located off in the woods, a short distance away from the big field.

Fort Worden, Fort Flagler and Fort Casey were built in the 1890's as a first line of defense for Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Seattle and Tacoma. Fort Casey is located on Whidbey Island, and there are no pictures of it here. Most of the fortifications that were there are gone, and only the lighthouse remains.

Forts Worden and Flagler appear similar because they were built around the same time period. These bunkers actually had electricity, which was a new modern invention. Construction began on Fort Worden was started first, followed shortly by Flagler and Casey. Fort Worden's main bunker down by the parking area is memorable for its double wall construction. Each room is a separate building inside the main bunker. Some of the fortifications up the hill at Fort Worden are double walled, and some are not. All were wired for electricity.

The main differences between Forts Worden and Flagler's bunkers are in the condition, number and difficulty in reaching the structures. Fort Flagler does not have double wall construction, but the buildings are in much better shape than Fort Worden's due to the volunteer activity. It is also easier to get around at Fort Flagler because there are fewer hills. Fort Worden has much more of its original structures left, but many of them are more difficult to get to. There is also a much greater variety of structures to explore. While it is wise to be careful wandering around any old buildings or bunkers,this is especially true for Fort Worden. There are often stairs or steps inside the structures, and the floors are very uneven. In many places there are small items (pipes or hard-cased wiring) to trip over, or holes where items were removed.



Last edited 8/11/06