Photos — Fort Words

Fort Words (Port Townsend, WA)

…it’s easy to look at these old structures as remnants of something that once was or the site of something that no longer is…but there is great wisdom in these walls, great wisdom that we can still benefit from.

The stories that people share — words, memories, experiences — these are the truths that our history books overlook. But these are also the stories, the words, the memories, the experiences that will help us see into the future by honoring the past…”

Battery Ash

“Now that the armistice is signed, what happens to us? There are more rumors flying around than ever before…” — VJ Gregory — “Now that the armistice is signed, what happens to us? There are more rumors flying around than ever before…” — VJ Gregory

“A good operator will a you whether it was a steam or diesel and how many tons just by listening...” — Dick Wiltsie — “A good operator will a you whether it was a steam or diesel and how many tons just by listening...” — Dick Wiltsie

Battery Benson

“I was only 8 but, even in school we were all required to wear cotton masks over our faces…” — Harold Brown — “I was only 8 but, even in school we were all required to wear cotton masks over our faces…” — Harold Brown

“All these people all over the park they had signs, trying to connect to something much beyond our earth...“ — Susan Thomas — “All these people all over the park they had signs, trying to connect to something much beyond our earth...“ — Susan Thomas

“The only time there were any restrictions was when they were practicing firing weapons...” — William Gurley — “The only time there were any restrictions was when they were practicing firing weapons...” — William Gurley

Battery Brannan

“We are S’klallam. Welcome to our land. Welcome to Kah-Tai. We are grateful For our land...” — Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe — “We are S’klallam. Welcome to our land. Welcome to Kah-Tai. We are grateful For our land...” — Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe

“The bunkers Were very interesting but scary. We thought monsters lived inside them all...” — Karl Dehmer — “The bunkers Were very interesting but scary. We thought monsters lived inside them all...” — Karl Dehmer

Battery Kinzie

“It was a very different place, it was a very small town still suffering from the fort having been closed…” — Rosalie Lundquist — “It was a very different place, it was a very small town still suffering from the fort having been closed…” — Rosalie Lundquist

“We’d go to the beach and look for beach glass and little pieces of driftwood and stuff…” — April Miller — “We’d go to the beach and look for beach glass and little pieces of driftwood and stuff…” — April Miller

“It was the fifteenth wave to hit the beach. So, We hit the beach but The tide was out...” — Ronald Clements — “It was the fifteenth wave to hit the beach. So, We hit the beach but The tide was out...” — Ronald Clements

Battery Powell

“We would all go bowling and when she set a ball down, it felt like a week before it got to the pins…” — Mary Hanke — “We would all go bowling and when she set a ball down, it felt like a week before it got to the pins…” — Mary Hanke

“We are strong and our land is strong. Our land is very good and very large...” — Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe — “We are strong and our land is strong. Our land is very good and very large...” — Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe

Battery Putnam

“We need to get a film in the can by June, we’ve got three months and we like your facility...” — Dolores Crow — “We need to get a film in the can by June, we’ve got three months and we like your facility...” — Dolores Crow

Battery Quarles

“We spent hundred of house playing war, exploring buildings that were off limits…” — Ed Edwards — “We spent hundred of house playing war, exploring buildings that were off limits…” — Ed Edwards

“I never went inside these old buildings but they were so fascinating like you were discovering Machu Picchu…” — Bayly Miller — “I never went inside these old buildings but they were so fascinating like you were discovering Machu Picchu…” — Bayly Miller

Battery Randol

“The bunkers were our play houses, we used to sleep in there, and play, and yeah definitely had good times…” — Richard Koning — “The bunkers were our play houses, we used to sleep in there, and play, and yeah definitely had good times…” — Richard Koning

Battery Stoddard

“Fort Worden as gorgeous and not like an Army fort. Was more like a group of old Southern Mansions...” — Dolores Crow — “Fort Worden as gorgeous and not like an Army fort. Was more like a group of old Southern Mansions...” — Dolores Crow

“It as very disappointing we didn’t have a football team here, I’ll have to ind coaches someplace...” — Herbert Herro — “It as very disappointing we didn’t have a football team here, I’ll have to ind coaches someplace...” — Herbert Herro

Battery Tolles

“We noticed thing like flowers, that were so big and luscious, but they’d all dry out in the summer…” — Mary Pat Sweetman — “We noticed thing like flowers, that were so big and luscious, but they’d all dry out in the summer…” — Mary Pat Sweetman

“We only had a Few months of school because the other months had the flu and school was closed...” — Josephine Yarr — “We only had a Few months of school because the other months had the flu and school was closed...” — Josephine Yarr

Battery Vicars

“Sometime they would accidentally start a fire in a building. We didn’t normally try to put the fires out...” — Paul Stock — “Sometime they would accidentally start a fire in a building. We didn’t normally try to put the fires out...” — Paul Stock

Battery Walker

“I fell in love with all the undergrowth in the forest, the ferns and landscape are so beautiful...” — Lucille Reinen — “I fell in love with all the undergrowth in the forest, the ferns and landscape are so beautiful...” — Lucille Reinen

Searchlight #4

“I remember I would feel overwhelmed to see those great white barracks and views of the sound out there…” — John Border — “I remember I would feel overwhelmed to see those great white barracks and views of the sound out there…” — John Border