Port Angeles, a full-service city, is the activity center of the North Olympic Peninsula and the seat of government for Clallam County.
The convenient downtown shopping district is alive with friendly shops, flowers and outdoor art. Rising high above the city is snow-capped Hurricane Ridge, the most popular feature of Olympic National Park.
Port Angeles' geography makes it ideally suited to those who love the outdoors. From golfing to gardening, weather seldom interferes. The region offers incomparable recreation opportunities for year-round activities.
Click photo to view in larger image size.
Close by are the Dungeness National Wildlife Preserve, Lakes Crescent and Sutherland, Sol Duc Hot Springs and numerous rivers, beaches and parks. Olympic Discovery Trail, for hiker, bicyclists and equestrians, is one of the longest trail systems in the nation.
The community is proud of the award-winning Port Angeles Symphony and the hilltop Port Angeles Fine Arts Center, a noteworthy museum of contemporary art. All year long there are opportunities to enjoy live theater, concerts and festivals. A new $4.2 million library was constructed in 1997.
The Olympic Medical Center, based in Port Angeles, provides state-of-the-art diagnostic and surgical facilities and a broad range of ancillary services. Several independent medical clinics are located throughout the community. The city provides 24-hour advanced life support paramedical services to Port Angeles residents for a nominal fee.
Housing costs are significantly lower than the adjacent Puget Sound area and many homes come with a mountain or water view. That view often includes the lights of Victoria, B.C., clearly visible across the Strait.
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~ In Partnership With the Community ~
Regional Chamber of Commerce The Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce website is your source for detailed information about area attractions, events, and lodging.
And - find information about the history, people and natural surroundings of Port Angeles.
Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce 121 E. Railroad
Port Angeles, WA 98362
360-452-2363
Website:www.portangeles.org
Here's a sampling of just a few of the types of City events that happen in and around Port Angeles. Enjoy!
SHANE PARK TENNIS COURTS REOPEN Shane Park was constructed by the City of Port Angeles and originally opened in July of 1974. The park is used consistently by multiple groups for a variety of sports and recreational activities including tennis, softball, youth baseball, and soccer.
The newly resurfaced tennis courts reopened for play on Sunday, May 13th. The Peninsula Tennis Club held a ribbon cutting with league play right after the ceremony.
At right: Photo shows resurfaced courts. Nets will be installed on May 13th. Click photo to view larger image size.
“These new courts are just gorgeous”, said Peninsula Tennis Club president, Laurel Cripe........
Annual Kids Fishing Derby at Lincoln Park!
Get Ready for April 2010
Kids! Get those poles ready for our annual derby at the Lincoln Park Ponds. In 2009, over 400 kids and their parents participated!
This derby is just for kids ages 5-14 years old. And it's FREE!
Where: Lincoln Park Ponds We'll have prizes, food and fish!!!
So be sure to come with your blanket, fishing pole and some patience.
Don't let that big one get away.
Ages 12 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian Cost: FREE!!!
All Washington State fishing regulations apply
with maximum of 5 fish per day - no size limit
Concerts on the Pier Enjoy a terrific outdoors concert every week during the summer at the City Pier. Bring a chair or blanket and come down for some great entertainment. Concerts are held on Wednesday evenings from 6pm to 8pm.
So this summer, bring a blanket to spread on the grass or your favorite lawn chair and enjoy a wide variety of music. There is no charge - so bring the entire family! The City Pier is a great place to visit......
Arts in Action in Port Angeles What began as a quiet little festival is quickly becoming a destination for tourists as well as a familiar favorite of residents.
Nor'Wester Rotary's Arts in Action has the only North American master sand sculptor invitational competition and is the only event of its kind in the Northwest with arts and crafts, food, live music and sand sculptures.
This event is held every year in July and is great entertainment for kids of all ages and the entire family!
It is the goal of Nor'Wester Rotary to offer the best to their friends, townsfolk, tourists, and supporters and to create a wonderful experience for all involved. Be sure to join us every year for this great event!
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Call
(360) 417-3634 office or visit their website at: www.arts-in-action.org
Port Angeles Fine Art Center
The Port Angeles Fine Arts Center is the westernmost center for contemporary art in the contiguous United States. Located in the shadow of Olympic National Park, its superlative physical setting provides an inspiring frame for cultural offerings.
The Center is located at 1203 E. Lauridsen Blvd., near the Jones Street water tank.
The Port Angeles Fine Arts Center is open all year round and presents exhibits of visual art in all media. PAFAC has presented over 115 gallery exhibitions since 1986 and five seasons of Art Outside since 2000.
Works by more than 500 artists, principally from the Northwest, have been featured in exhibitions curated by the Port Angeles Fine Arts Center staff and, on occasion, by guest curators.
The award winning Port Angeles Fine Arts Center presents a mix of works by widely recognized masters and innovative emerging artists using a wide range of art media and aesthetic approaches.
Jake Seniuk, Director.
Lectures, concerts, readings, and other special programs complement the changing exhibitions of visual art. PAFAC hosts the Juan de Fuca Festival of the Arts each Memorial Day weekend.
Cruise Ship Visits Port Angeles - May 4, 2006
The cruise ship ms Ryndam of the Holland America Line, Inc. stopped in Port Angeles for the day on May 4th as part of a five-day cruise that also included visits to Victoria and Seattle.
The ship was greeted with music by the Port Angeles High School Jazz Band and the Lower Elwha Klallam JC Singers.
Several local officials from the Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce, Olympic National Park, Port of Port Angeles and the City of Port Angeles were on hand to greet the passengers and crew.
City Welcomes Delegates from Poland
Finance Director Yvonne Ziomkowski and former City Manager Mark Madsen welcome several of the delegates from the Poland National Park Service as they visited Port Angeles on May 4th.
Click photo to view larger image size.
Director Ziomkowski spoke in her native Polish language to answer questions and to also express the City's sincere appreciation of the opportunity to meet and talk with these very special international visitors.
After a short visit at City Hall, the delegates and several representatives of the City, enjoyed lunch at the Downrigger Restaurant.
The delegates are in the area to learn more about how the Olympic National Park compares with their national park system.
Welcome to National Park Delegates from Poland!
Olympic Discovery Trail
The Waterfront Trail is a section of a larger trail system called the Olympic Discovery Trail. The Olympic Discovery Trail is planned to eventually run from Port Townsend to Forks, a distance of approximately 150 miles.
For more information about the Olympic Discovery Trail, please visit their website at: www.olympicdiscoverytrail.com
New Sign Welcomes All to Port Angeles A brand new entry sign, complete with pond, waterfall and native plantings has been completed by volunteer effort.
The local Rotary Club spearheaded this project along with the help of locals Andrew May and Jackson Smart, sign designer.
Click photo to view more images.
The sign is located on the 1800 block of East Front Street. Stop by and explore all the details of this extraordinary project.
The Entry Sign is also the recipient of the October 2005 Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce Beautification Award.
Thank you to all those hardworking volunteers that gave of their time and talents to the new entry sign!
2005 Tribal Canoe Journey Arrives in Port Angeles The Paddle to Elwha assembly of 55 Canadian First Nations and Native American canoes arrived at Hollywood Beach on Monday.
The Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe welcomed the Swinomish, Skokomish, Tulalip, Nooksack, Puyallup, Squaxin and Muckleshoot,Quinault, Hoh, Makah, Quileute, Samish and Lummi tribes as they first requested permission then landed on the beach.
Approximately 3000 people came to the City Pier area to witness this annual event. The event includes a time of prayer and songs; singing, storytelling, dancing, and Native American crafts and food to be held at the Lower Elwha Tribal Center.
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CURRENT MYSTERY PHOTO! How well do you know Port Angeles? Can you identify this photo?
It's fun and easy to make a guess.
Give it a try!
See new photo, make a guess and see the solutions to previous mysteries...!
Tall Ships visit Port Angeles Port Angeles was able to enjoy several days of pirates and tall ships when three of these vessels visted our harbor. These ships joined about 30 other rigged sailing ships in Victoria and then traveled on to Tacoma.
City residents took on-board tours and also enjoyed various events around the city. We look forward to their next visit!
Please click the image to view other photos of the Tall Ships.
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Carnegie Library Wins State & National Awards The City of Port Angeles’ Carnegie Library Revitalization has been selected by the National American Public Works Association (APWA) as a Public Works Project of the Year for 2005 in the category of Historical Restoration/Preservation - Less Than Two Million.
The City will be awarded a plaque recognizing this very prestigious achievement at the APWA annual Awards Recognition Ceremony in Minneapolis, Minnesota this September.
To enhance local economic development,a business plan for fiber optics deployment was established by the City of Port Angeles to bring advanced broadband services to the community at below-market prices.
For Capacity Provisioning Inc., www.cpifiber.com, who provides affordable access to high speed communications for a diverse customer base, this was the perfect opportunity to both grow its business and support the community.
Thus a partnership with the City of Port Angeles was formed, resulting in one of the most successful public private partnerships in the city's history.
City History
The first official reported sighting of the Peninsula was made by an explorer named Juan Perez on August 10, 1774, and the first confirmed report of the Strait of Juan de Fuca was made by Captain Charles Barkely in 1787.
A Greek named Apostolos Valerianus, who had a reputation for "tall tales", claimed to find the Strait in 1592, but, Captain John Kendrick, an American, visited the Strait in 1792 and is credited with its naming.
Please also visit the City of Port Angeles Police and Fire Department pages for more historical items of interest.
Education:
Good schools produce a good work force. Peninsula College serves degree-seeking students and those pursuing specialized training or retraining. The college works in partnership with local businesses to design curricula responding to local needs. It's Corporate Training Institute attracts companies and their executives from a broad area. Four-year degree and certificate programs from Washington State University and Western Washington University are available through Peninsula College.
Further opportunities for training are provided by programs such as the North Olympic Peninsula Skills Center.
The motto of the Port Angeles School District, "Quality Education in a Quality Community", is exemplified by the district's partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Gates Foundation grants go to districts that demonstrate the characteristics of nationally recognized districts. Port Angeles students consistently score above state and national averages on standardized tests. The community contributes generously to a local scholarship program for graduating seniors.
The City of Port Angeles is blessed with a variety of transportation options linking our City with other regional and local communities.
Options also exist to allow visitors to enjoy our many attractions once you're here. Transportation services and facilities include an international airport, international ferries, a regional transit system and van, limousine and taxi services.
You can also find out the status of any transportation projects that may affect your travel plans by referring to the Street Division of the Public Works Department.
Weather / Yearly Rainfall
Port Angeles enjoys a coastal climate and is mild throughout the year. On average, temperatures range from the 30's in winter months to the 70's in the summer months. Average rain fall is 25 inches per year for Port Angeles.
The weather of Port Angeles is impacted by two major natural features; water and mountains. The water, which nearly surrounds the area, keeps the temperature amazingly temperate on a year-round basis. Seldom does it get real cold, and almost all summer is considered sweater weather.
The Olympic Mountains also play a big role in influencing the weather. Because they rise over 7,000 feet and are south and west of Port Angeles, the mountains create a rain shadow effect on the Port Angeles/Sequim region.
This combination of comfortable temperatures and a reasonable amount of rain, makes it not only ideal for human beings but plants love it too, which is why flowers, gardening, and boutique farming are becoming so popular in this area. Source: Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce http://www.portangeles.org/5.html
Rain Fall
Contrary to popular belief - it does not rain all the time in Port Angeles. In comparison to other cities in the area, Port Angeles has less rain than you might think!
Yearly Rain Totals for 2004
City
Inches
Port Angeles
24.51
Forks
97.09
Sequim
10.40
Seattle
31.19
Port Townsend
15.77
Victoria, British Columbia
34.41
Source: Peninsula Daily News - 12/31/2004
Weather Update:
Expect rain...and then a little bit more rain....and then guess what? Rain! Colder than normal temperatures with daytime temps in the mid 40s with temps at night in the mid to lower 30s.
For a more specific forecast, please click photo to see satellite view of incoming weather systems courtesy of KOMO 4 News. Tune to KONP Radio 1450 AM, or 102.1 FM on your radio dial for current weather information and road conditions.
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