The Historical And Economic Geography Of Port Angeles, Washington

Abstract

A century ago, an explorer, standing on the hill now known as Lincoln Heights in Port Angeles, Washington, would have seen below him to the north the smoothly curving south shore of the Straits of Juan de Fuca. Sloping northward at his feet was an extensive glacial terrace thickly covered with huge cedar, hemlock, fir and spruce, the forest cover ending abruptly at the end of a 100 foot bluff parallel to the Straits. Projecting northward, then eastward from the narrow beach was a remarkable formation now known as Ediz Hook -- a three and one-half mile recurving sandpit with no vegetative cover except a fringe of saltgrass along its low crest. Inside the spit was a quiet and commodious natural harbor. At its west and a small inner lagoon couuld be reached by a narrow channel. Indian camps at two beach sites within the enclosed harvor might have been detected by smoke columns.