This Unique Museum In Washington Is Perfect For A Day Trip Any Time Of Year
By Andrea Verschuyl|Published February 16, 2024
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Andrea Verschuyl
Author
Having grown up in Washington, Andrea is a self-admitted Pacific Northwest snob. In their opinion, there's simply nowhere else in the country with the Evergreen State's beauty. After attending university, Andrea devoted themselves to writing full-time. They're thrilled to represent Washington for Only In Your State while pursuing other professional and personal projects. They currently reside in Olympia, where they enjoy leaf-blowing their yard, perfecting homemade ramen, cuddling with their three tiny dogs, and feeding their pufferfish, Sea Biscuit.
You'll find Friday Harbor on San Juan Island, the second-largest member of the San Juan Island Archipelago and also its economic center, seeing approximately 600,000 unique visitors per year. One of Friday Harbor's biggest attractions is its whale watching opportunities, which promises visitors up-close-and-personal orca encounters between April and October.
Since its founding in 1979, Friday Harbor's Whale Museum has become a crucial figure in the island's stewardship of the Salish Sea's ecosystem. It supports local research and provides a space for the public to learn about important scientific discoveries.
It's also a prominent feature of Friday Harbor's idyllic downtown, located directly beside the bustling ferry terminal. Unsure what you're looking for? A gorgeous cetacean-themed mural jazzes up the building's starboard side.
Inside, the museum boasts a collection of fascinating artifacts that collectively represent a slice of the San Juan Island's natural history. If you can, I recommend booking a tour with one of the organization's knowledgeable educators.
Even if you don't manage to land yourself a tour, the exhibits here provide fantastic information for visitors of all ages, leaving guests with a better understanding of how unique the local ecosystem really is.
My favorite section is about the island's three groups of Southern Resident Orcas, called J, K, and L pods. Comprising just 73 members, these individuals fill a crucial role in the Salish Sea habitat and have been the subjects of meticulous research since 1974, after their population was decimated by whale hunts for marine parks. You can learn more about this tragic event in the 2013 documentary Blackfish.
With the Southern Resident orcas considered endangered, it's increasingly essential for organizations like the Whale Museum to advocate for protecting the Salish Sea ecosystem. And, with Friday Harbor's economy so closely tied to whale tourism, it's important for the local community, too.
Interested in learning more about sea life in the San Juans? Visit the Whale Museum! This unique museum in Washington has supported environmental research and education on San Juan Island for fifty years and counting. It’s a great destination as you explore this one-of-a-kind Pacific Northwest spot.
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