Europeans Explore and Settle the Pacific Northwest
Although England's Sir Francis Drake looked around in 1579, Spain was the
first and most determined of the world powers to explore and chart the
Pacific Northwest. Then came others like England, France, and Russia.
By the 19th century and the period of westward expansion, Spain had
dropped from the picture. Nobody really knows much about the first Spanish
settlers, except that they had a settlement at Neah Bay. A few lilting
names remain to show that Spain was once a major power in the Northwest. A
few bricks found buried under dirt and garbage are our only evidence that
they were there.
For almost 30 years (between 1818 and 1846) England and France took turns
claiming ownership of this part of Washington. There were many United
States presidents during this time, including James Monroe, John Quincy
Adams, Andrew Jackson, Martin Van Buren, William Henry Harrison, John Tyler
and James Polk.
For a while, England claimed everything north of the Columbia River, and
the United States claimed everything south of Alaska. The Olympic Peninsula
lay toward the center of the disputed territory. Settlers here were taking
chances on their ownership of land, or their citizenship, or both, which
made for cautious settlement. In 1846, during Polk's presidency, the boundary between the United States and Canada was official and on paper.
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Port Townsend was one of the first white towns; it was prime land for the
early white settlers and for the Native Americans as well, because it was
the meeting point of several waterways that make up the complex of Puget
Sound. In those days water provided the best means of travel and trade.
In 1852 a man named Samuel Hancock established a trading post at Neah Bay,
where smoked salmon, whale oils, and furs were traded. Earlier more than
half the Makah Tribe had died of smallpox brought by the white man, so the
Makahs presented Hancock with anything but a warm welcome. On his next
visit, Hancock and two helpers built a strong building with a stockade
around it. But for some reason the Native Americans were friendlier this
time.
In the 1860s a teacher named James G. Swan became one of the founders and leading
citizens of Port Townsend. He had a genuine interest and concern for the
Native Americans, and left behind writings, artwork, and artifacts that
today inform us of early Native American life. Swan later became a judge.
In the 1870s Port Townsend was a growing settlement, and the neighboring
town of Quilcene was already established, though it was quite small. Other small white settlements were also forming on the Peninsula. Most prominent of these was Sequim.
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