Description
Once covering much of the northeast Olympic Peninsula, the Port Townsend camas prairie is a remnant of a critically important ecosystem that sustained many of the tribes of the Pacific Northwest. Join us on this tour of the prairie to learn about what happened to the prairies of the Olympic Peninsula, followed by a walk down to what is left of the qatáy lagoon. This walk is 2 miles roundtrip, on a mix of paved and gravel trail. Pre-registration required.
About History Hikes
Each year, North Olympic History Center Executive Director David Brownell leads guided hikes at historically significant sites across east Jefferson County. This program is coordinated by the Jefferson County Historical Society.
This year’s hikes include:
Saturday, June 20 - Port Williams / Marlyn Nelson County Park (returning from 2024)
Saturday, July 18 - qatáy prairie and lagoon
Saturday, September 19 - Dungeness and 3 Crabs
General Information
Two hikes offered per date - 10AM and 12:30PM
Each hike lasts approximately 90 minutes
Distance ranges from 1.5 to 2.5 miles round-trip
Capacity limited to 12 participants per hike
Pre-registration required. After registering, you’ll receive a confirmation email from SimpleTix with additional details. If you don’t see it, please check your spam folder.
Cost: $48 for JCHS or NOHC members; $64 for non-members. Proceeds support collections care, research, exhibitions, and public programs at both organizations.
Participants are responsible for their own transportation to and from each site.
About David Brownell
David Brownell holds a BA in History from Hanover College and an MA in Public History from Wright State University. After serving as Research Coordinator for the Seminole Tribe of Florida’s Tribal Historic Preservation Office, David moved to Washington in 2015 to take a position as Cultural Resources Specialist for the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, and in 2018 he was designated as Jamestown’s Tribal Historic Preservation Officer by Tribal Council. In the fall of 2021, he became Executive Director of the North Olympic History Center. David serves on the board of the Jefferson County Historical Society.
Interested in membership?
Questions? Email programs@jchsmuseum.com
Date & Time
Jul 18, 2026 10:00 AM-2:00 PM
Venue Details
qatáy prairie and lagoon
440 12th StreetPort Townsend, Washington 98368
