Four local heritage and historic preservation initiatives have been awarded grants totaling $1.9 million of the $10 million being distributed this year by the state historical society’s Heritage Capital Project Fund.

Award recipients include the Port of Port Townsend, the Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding, the Jefferson County Historical Society and the Schooner Martha. 

“The fact that four of 18 projects are in Jefferson County speaks volumes about the amazing heritage work happening here,” wrote JCHS Executive Director Tara McCauley. “We’re proud to be in such good company.” 

Eighteen projects across the state were chose Sn for the 2025-2027 biennium budget after being vetted by a panel of experts from multiple disciplines, according to a Jefferson County Historical Society press release. 

The fund has invested over $106 million to support more than 400 projects since it was established in 1995. Every dollar is matched 2:1 by the recipients. 

Port of Port Townsend 

The port will receive $1 million to continue its efforts in rehabilitating the historic Point Hudson campus and re-roofing nine port buildings. The campus is “one of the most iconic settings of Washington’s National Maritime Heritage Area,” the release reads.

“We are thrilled to invest some HCG money at Point Hudson to replace those old 1935 asbestos roofs,” wrote Port Executive Director Eron Berg. “This is part of the Port’s multi-phase plan to restore and rehabilitate Point Hudson that started with the new breakwater, includes significant work on the historic buildings and also includes in ground infrastructure and roadways.”

The Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding

The boat building school will receive $498,000 to rehabilitate seven historical cottages used for student housing and improve the rest of the Port Hadlock campus with signage, paths and lighting. The cottages add to the historic character of the working waterfront, according to the release. 

“I am so grateful that this community supported the Boat School’s acquisition of an acre of land with seven historic cottages to use for student housing,” wrote Betsy Davis, the executive director of the boat building school. “Combined with prior investments of the last decade, the resulting 8-acre campus provides a great learning environment for students, and the school’s graduates help fuel the local marine trades.”

The Jefferson County Historical Society 

The historical society will receive $269,000 to continue its efforts in reimagining the Jefferson Museum of Art and History in Port Townsend’s city hall building. The work is part of the society’s goal to sustain interest and engagement with the region’s history, the release reads. 

“These funds will be used to continue the reimagining work at the Museum of Art + History — specifically the production, fabrication, and installation of all the new exhibition infrastructure — display cases, reader rails, audio visual components, and so on,” wrote McCauley. 

The Schooner Martha 

Stewards of the Schooner Martha, an authentic wooden 1907 schooner, will receive $142,000 for the next phase of restoration to rebuild its cabin and house top. It will ensure the schooner is sailing “well into the future,” the release reads. 

“Schooner Martha Foundation is grateful to the Washington State Historical Society for prioritizing maritime history and restoration,” wrote foundation board member Sonia Frojen. “Through the collaboration with and support of our marine trades and our working waterfront, along with our sailing community, Martha’s final original restoration efforts will take place in Port Townsend’s Boat Haven.”