Few People Realize How Much History Is Preserved In The Small Town Of Oysterville, Washington

In the southwest corner of Washington, in beautiful Pacific County, lies a tiny town you may not have heard of. With a population of fewer than 120 people, when we say tiny, we truly mean teeny-tiny. Oysterville is a lovely coastal hamlet, but few people realize how much history is preserved in this small Washington town.

Long before pioneer settlers arrived at the area now known as Oysterville, Indigenous Chinook Indians harvested oysters from Willapa Bay, which was abundant with these succulent shellfish.

Pioneers Robert Hamilton Espy and Isaac Alonzo Clark settled in the area and established the village as Oysterville in 1854.

Chinook Chief Nahcati led Espy and Clark to the mudflats along Willapa Bay piled high with oysters.

At that time, San Francisco was rich in gold and hungry for oysters, and Oysterville had plenty to go around.

For this reason, Espy and Clark marketed their mollusks earning $10 in gold for a peach basket full of oysters, an unheard-of sum for that time.

By 1855, Oysterville became a booming oyster distributor and the population exploded. Consequently, the town became the county seat for Pacific County with a church, a school, saloons, and a newspaper, but interestingly enough, no bank was ever established.

With no banks in town, residents found less conventional ways of hiding their gold which could be found stashed under mattresses or buried in tin cans. Fun fact; it is said that at that time, Oysterville housed more gold than any other West Coast city besides San Francisco.

Unfortunately, in the late 1880s, the native oysters became sparse, and the much-anticipated railroad line ended in Nahcotta, a disappointing four miles from Oysterville.

Today, oysters are harvested daily at Oysterville Sea Farms on the site of the last cannery left in Oysterville.

Oysterville Sea Farms prides itself on its clean estuary and sustainable practices.

Did you know the history of Oysterville, Washington? Have you visited this small Washington town? What are some of your favorite things to do in Oysterville, Washington? Let us know in the comments.

Visit nearby Long Beach, Washington, and check out the world's largest frying pan. This area makes for a great road trip!

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