Seaport Landing

The headquarters of GHHSA is currently located on a 214-acre site just outside of Aberdeen, Wash. The Seaport Learning Center compound includes a three-acre area with ADA-accessible classrooms, shop spaces, restrooms with showers, and indoor and outdoor high and low ropes challenge courses.

GHHSA is currently embarked on a multi-million dollar fundraising campaign to create Seaport Landing, a major education, maintenance, and tourism destination facility on Aberdeen's historic waterfront. In 2003, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources signed a 30-year shoreline lease with GHHSA for a 320-foot section of the waterfront on the Chehalis River at the historic Pakonen & Son Boatyard. This lease includes uplands as well as the waterway to the outer harbor line. The site has frontage on U.S. Highway 101, a major tourism route, and the site is clearly visible to both northbound and southbound traffic. The site currently includes a pier, docks and boat launch, all of which require replacement.

After extensive research and consultation with more than 120 community stakeholders, we were pleased to present a Master Plan for Seaport Landing that calls for a three-phase approach to development.

Phase I
The primary focus of Phase I is site cleanup and infrastructure. We will build the pier and docks, a small multi-purpose shop space and prepare for the next phase of development. Three primary interpretive storylines will be identified and developed further. We have begun this process in the summer of 2005 and hope to have a completed interpretive plan shortly.

Phase II
Phase II begins with the construction of our largest building. This open floor plan, multi-purpose 1910 to 1920s-style industrial architecture building will first serve as the shop that we will use to build our "land ship." Then it will be converted into exhibit spaces, classrooms, library, offices, and gift shop.

Phase II: The “Land Ship”
The land ship is a representation of a late 19th-century bark-rigged lumber schooner of approximately 130 feet on deck. The exhibit is designed to interpret local lumber and shipbuilding history. Displayed on land from the waterline up, the land ship will appear to be partially loaded and waiting to finish loading prior to departure. Her "cargo" will be large cants of lumber undergoing seasoning for GHHSA projects. The crew's quarters forward may be used for berthing for overnight educational programs or for ship's crew in transit. The captain's and mates cabins aft will be exhibit quality, and may also serve as accommodations for VIP visitors. The galley on deck and its wood stove will be fully functional and will be used on "virtual voyage" overnight educational programs. The rig aloft will double as a training aid for crew and as a challenge course for local youth. On special occasions, a special square sail can be set to show movies for families. The land ship will also serve as a permanent, iconic feature identifying the site from all directions.

Phase II: Small Boat Moorage
Small boat moorage will include temporary moorage for boats moving in and out of the boat launch area as well as transient moorage for small boats exploring the 36 miles of waterways within six miles of the site.

Phase III
Phase III calls for GHHSA to move beyond our initial footprint as we partner with other entities to expand development and interpretive elements along the south shore of the Chehalis River.

Where we are today
With the general Master Plan concepts completed, we are meeting with state and federal agencies to refine the design concepts, identify and resolve as many potential problems of concerns as we can before we begin the engineering and design process. We expect to have this completed shortly. We are refining the engineering, design and construction costs and will have a new group of funding applications out within a few months.

Want to get involved?
Volunteers are always welcome! We need individuals interested in researching the site, shipbuilding, sawmills, and shipping on the harbor, as well as people interested in the region's past and present natural and cultural history.

If you have experience or an interest in construction, design, engineering, program development, or exhibit design we can use your help! Call 1-800-200-5239 or email ghhsa_admin@historicalseaport.org.

Grays Harbor Historical Seaport Authority
712 Hagara St., PO Box 2019, Aberdeen, WA, 98520
1-800-200-5239 ghhsa_admin@historicalseaport.org