Hidden History signs unveiled in Port Townsend

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Hidden History signs were recently unveiled beside Haller Fountain at the intersection of Washington and Taylor streets.

A project of the Port Townsend Main Street Program, these new signs have replaced 14 signs in Uptown and Downtown. They include stories and photographs that offer a glimpse into the lesser-known history of the city, telling tales of Union Wharf’s origin, the area’s multiple railroad companies, catastrophic fires in the region, and the city’s preservation efforts.

“The MIS signs were neglected,” said Nathan Barnett, board member of multiple organizations and LTAC, in a recent press release.

“They never really caught on and we have some great stories to tell for locals and visitors alike,” Barnett explained.

At the unveiling, city officials were present to mark the occasion which presented a unique opportunity to celebrate the community’s past and future.

Each Hidden History sign is fashioned with a QR code that takes visitors to a new history-focused website, pthistory.com.

“The new website offers an opportunity to continue the narrative,” Barnett added.

“The Jefferson County Historical Society hopes to contribute and post oral history recordings. The signs provide a starting point for exploring the complicated past of our home.”

For more information, visit pthistory.com or ptmainstreet.org.