Fort Worden

Last post in the family reunion series, I promise. This is for posterity sake anyway so I guess it doesn't matter if you enjoy it. The house we rented was actually an old Army barrack on the grounds of Fort Worden. Fort Worden, along with the heavy batteries of Fort Flagler and Fort Casey, once guarded nautical entrance to Puget Sound. These posts, established in the late 1890s, became the first line of a fortification system designed to prevent a hostile fleet from reaching such targets as the Bremerton Naval Yard and the cities of Seattle, Tacoma and Everett. Construction began in 1897 and continued in one form or another until the fort was closed in 1953. The property was purchased as a state park in 1955. Fort Worden is named after Rear Admiral John L. Worden. Here are some pictures from our afternoon of exploring the old bunkers that look out over the Strait of Juan De Fuca.

Here is the forest side of the bunkers and the kids all marching in a row, except Jack of course.

Jack needed a little boost up the ladder.

Once inside the bunkers it is pretty neat. You can't see much unless you bring a flashlight. This picture was lit up by the flash on my camera.

I turned the flash off for this one. You can see the exit in the distance.

Addie and her cousin peeking out through the slit in an observation tower.

This is where one of the big guns were located. You can see the scale of the guns by comparing the base to my Mom on the platform.

Papa droppin knowledge.

This is on top of the bunkers looking out over the strait of Juan De Fuca. you can see Whidbey Island, WA directly across and then faintly in the distance part of the San Juan Islands (also part of Washington). Victoria, B.C. is out of the picture to the left.

That's it. The next post will not be family reunion related. You made it through. Nice job.