Neighborhood-Kids All Local. All for Kids. All the Time.

Discover Bellingham's History This Summer

by Neighborhood-Kids.com7/2/2008 9:39:42 AM

Most kids know the basic story of the American Revolution that lead to the formation of our country as we know it today. Paul Revere and his midnight ride, Boston tea party, George Washington and the cherry tree—okay, that last one might lack historical evidence to back it up. But you get the idea.

Celebrate the 4th of July with fireworks...and learn some local history!

But as we celebrate our nation’s Independence Day with BBQs and fireworks, what do your kids know about the history of their own town and community? For that matter, what do most of us adults know?

Luckily, there are plenty of local resources to help your family learn more about the early days of Bellingham and Whatcom County in a fun and educational way. Many of them are free too, so you won't want to miss out!

Before European explorers made their way to Bellingham Bay in the late 19th century, it was home to Lummi, Nooksack and other Coast Salish tribes. In 2007, Governor Christine Gregoire declared the first Saturday in July “Canoe Journey Day” in honor of the “first peoples of these lands and waters.” Another traditional canoe landing will take place at Boulevard Park this year on July 5th, along with dancing, storytelling, and other cultural activities that celebrate Native American heritage and educate the community about the history of Bellingham’s first inhabitants.

Did you know Bellingham had a trolley system from 1891 to 1938? Learn more about this period at the Whatcom Museum.

To find out a little more about the development of Bellingham after non-native settlement, the Whatcom Museum offers several unique learning opportunities this summer. A trip on their Bellingham Bay Summer History Cruise will take you and your family on a scenic, sunset tour of the Bay while learning about town history from Whatcom Museum Curator of Education Richard Vanderway. These cruises are offered on multiple dates until August 14th and they tend to sell out, so get your tickets soon.

Or you can stop by the Museum during one of their free Summer History Programs, which cover topics like the consolidation of four separate towns situated along the Bay—Whatcom, Sehome, Bellingham, and Fairhaven—into the City of Bellingham in 1904, and how the transportation played a part in Bellingham’s development. These presentations also feature historic photos from the Museum’s Photo Archives to give you a better idea about how things looked in the early days of Bellingham.

From the Museum, you can also take a hike of Historic Bellingham, as laid out in Ken Wilcox’s Hiking Whatcom County, available at Village Books and at the Bellingham Public Library. A hike with a 2-mile loop and a minimal elevation gain, it’s an easy stroll for families around “Old Town” Bellingham and the Columbia neighborhood. Along the hike, Ken’s book points out many historical buildings, including the oldest house in Bellingham, the Pickett House, which was built in 1856. The book also gives a little background information on several of Bellingham’s "founding fathers.”

More questions about the history of Bellingham and some of its most historical locations? Ask the staff at the Bellingham Public Library or the Whatcom Museum to see what other resources they can help you find as you discover Bellingham’s past. And don’t forget to check out Neighborhood-Kids.com Activities to find out more about these and other educational, community events for the family to enjoy.

What bit of local history about your neighborhood would you like to share with us? Leave a comment or post in the Forum.