Summer Road Trip: Maritime Matters in Bremerton and Seattle

It’s 75 miles from Port Angeles to the City of Bremerton, Washington, the next stop on our NARA summer road trip. Our drive takes us past Discovery Bay and over the Hood Canal Bridge. We can see the Olympic Mountains in the West, prompting us to remember yesterday’s visit to Olympic National Park. As we drive through Bremerton, we notice a naval base and shipyard, which are part of the U.S. Navy’s large Naval Base Kitsap.

The Navy has a long history in Bremerton. Puget Sound Naval Shipyard has been in use since 1891, established first as a Naval Station and then as a Navy Yard. The Navy has been building, repairing, and storing ships there since 1901. Navy sailors stationed in Bremerton may come from anywhere in the country. The following clip from the Navy’s Welcome Aboard orientation video series provides an overview of what sailors could expect to find in Bremerton in 1997.

We drive down toward the ferry terminal and visit the Puget Sound Navy Museum and the USS Turner Joy (DD-951), a naval destroyer turned floating museum. Then we drive our car onto one of the Washington State Ferries for a one-hour ferry ride across Puget Sound to the City of Seattle.

Keeping with our maritime theme, our first stop is the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood. The Locks allow vessels ranging in size from kayaks to ferry boats to travel between saltwater Puget Sound and the freshwater Lake Union and Lake Washington. Built and operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Locks look much the same as they did when they were built in 1916. The following photos—dated 1916, 1925, and 1937—depict distinctive structures that we see on our visit.

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In the early 1930s Harry J. Christoffers, an employee of the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries, rode a boat through the Chittenden Locks and filmed the trip using an early color film stock. It’s fascinating how similar his experience was to that of boaters in the present, all the way down to the gathered groups of onlookers.

After a leisurely time spent exploring the Carl S. English Jr. Botanical Garden and watching boats pass through the Locks, we learn from a local resident that we are in town during Seattle’s Seafair. This annual summer festival has events spread through all the neighborhoods of the city. (Watch out for the Pirates!) Some of the biggest attractions are the Torchlight Parade, Fleet Week and the Maritime Celebration, and the hydroplane boat races on Lake Washington. Because of Seafair’s maritime theme, the U.S. Navy always plays a part in the festivities and has documented its involvement in photographs.

VADM William P. Lawrence, back seat, right side, and Seafair Managing Director Donald Jones, front seat, right side, take part in the Seattle Seafair ’82 torchlight parade. Local Identifier: 330-CFD-DN-SN-83-01531 (https://catalog.archives.gov/id/6370019)

The US Navy (USN) Oliver Hazard Perry Class Guided Missile Frigate USS CROMMELIN (FFG 37), rounds the bend as part of the 55th Annual SEAFAIR Parade of Ships. SEAFAIR is Seattle’s month-long traditional summer festival, which includes the parade of ships, parades, amateur athletics, air shows, and boat racing (2005) Local Identifier: 330-CFD-DN-SD-06-04275 (https://catalog.archives.gov/id/6668516)

Several employees from Key Bank present a Blue Angles balloon at the Torchlight Parade, a highlight of the 55th annual SEAFAIR summer festival, Seattles month-long traditional summer festival, including parades, amateur athletics, air shows and boat racing. The Key Bank Air Show at SEAFAIR will feature the US Navy Blue Angles this year (2005) Local Identifier: 330-CFD-DN-SD-06-04239 (https://catalog.archives.gov/id/6668480)

(Aug. 2, 2006) US Navy (USN) CHIEF of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Michael G. Mullen renders honors to the Austin Class Amphibious Transport Dock Ship USS CLEVELAND (LPD 7) during the 56th annual Seattle Seafair Parade of Ships in Seattle Washington (WA). The parade marks the beginning of Seafair’s Fleet Week by our Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication SPECIALIST Third Class Douglas G. Morrison (RELEASED). Local Identifier: 330-CFD-DN-SD-07-09531 (https://catalog.archives.gov/id/6699019)

(Aug. 2, 2006) The US Navy (USN) Northwest Band plays military music during the Seattle Seafair Parade of Ships in Seattle Washington (WA). The parade marks the beginning of Seafair’s Fleet Week by our Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication SPECIALIST Third Class Douglas G. Morrison (RELEASED). Local Identifier: 330-CFD-DN-SD-07-09532 (https://catalog.archives.gov/id/6699020)

Two crewmen stand at the starboard bow of the guided missile cruiser USS LEAHY (CG-16), in port during the Seattle Sea Fair 1982. In the background, the Space Needle can be seen. Local Identifier: 330-CFD-DN-ST-83-01274 (https://catalog.archives.gov/id/6371844)

The Navy Country Band performs at a picnic and chili cook-off during the Seattle Sea Fair 1982. Local Identifier: 330-CFD-DN-ST-83-01283 (https://catalog.archives.gov/id/6371853)

The Seattle Navy Band takes part in the Seattle Seafair ’82 torchlight parade. Local Identifier: 330-CFD-DN-SN-83-01532 (https://catalog.archives.gov/id/6370020)

Crewmen observe female guests as they perform in a square dance on the after deck of the guided missile cruiser USS LEAHY (CG-16) during the Seattle Sea Fair 1982. Visible in the background are the twin Standard-MR SAM (88) missiles on a Mark 26 Mod launcher. Local Identifier: 330-CFD-DN-ST-83-01281 (https://catalog.archives.gov/id/6371851)

A starboard bow view of the guided missile cruiser USS LEAHY (CG-16), arriving in port during the Seattle Sea Fair 1982. A tug boat sprays water into the air to welcome it. The Kingdome Stadium is visible in the background. Local Identifier: 330-CFD-DN-ST-83-01276 (https://catalog.archives.gov/id/6371846)

RADM William A. Walsh, commander, Amphibious Group Eastern Pacific, is knighted on board the guided missile cruiser USS LEAHY (CG-16) during ceremonies by the Sea Fair royalty (1982). Local Identifier: 330-CFD-DN-ST-83-01285 (https://catalog.archives.gov/id/6371855)

The US Navy (USN) Wasp Class Amphibious Assault Ship USS BONHOMME RICHARD (LHD 6) passes the Seattle Space Needle in downtown Seattle as part of the parade of ships for the 55th annual SEAFAIR Festival. SEAFAIR is Seattle’s month-long traditional summer festival, which includes the parade of ships, parades, amateur athletics, air shows, and boat racing. [2005] Local Identifier: 330-CFD-DN-SD-06-04273 (https://catalog.archives.gov/id/6668514)

One of the most popular Seafair events is the airshow, featuring the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels. We decide to stake out a spot along Lake Washington to watch.

The US Navy (USN) flight demonstration team the Blue Angels, practice their air show maneuvers near Mount Rainier. The practice show prepares the pilots for their regular air show this Saturday and Sunday during the 55th annual Seattle SEAFAIR unlimited hydroplane races. The Blue Angels fly the USN F/A-18A Hornet, performing approximately 30 maneuvers during the aerial demonstration lasting over an hour. [2005] Local Identifier: 330-CFD-DN-SD-06-04284 (https://catalog.archives.gov/id/6668525)

The US Navy (USN) flight demonstration team, the Blue Angels, in F/A-18A Hornets, perform the Fleur De Lis maneuver over Lake Washington during Seattle SEAFAIR events in Seattle, Washington (WA). SEAFAIR is Seattle’s month-long traditional summer festival, with parades, amateur athletics, air shows and boat racing. [2005] Local Identifier: 330-CFD-DN-SD-06-05012 (https://catalog.archives.gov/id/6668670)

Four US Navy (USN) F/A-18A Hornets, assigned to the USN flight demonstration team the Blue Angels, perform their classic Diamond formation maneuver over Lake Washington during Seattle SEAFAIR events in Seattle, Washington (WA). SEAFAIR is Seattle’s month-long traditional summer festival, with parades, amateur athletics, air shows and boat racing. [2005] Local Identifier: 330-CFD-DN-SD-06-05017 (https://catalog.archives.gov/id/6668675)

The lead solo pilot with the US Navy (USN) flight demonstration team, the Blue Angels, performs a high-speed, low level pass in a USN F/A-18A Hornet over Lake Washington during Seattle’s SEAFAIR events in Seattle, Washington (WA). SEAFAIR is Seattle’s month-long traditional summer festival, with parades, amateur athletics, air shows and boat racing. [2005] Local Identifier: 330-CFD-DN-SD-06-05013 (https://catalog.archives.gov/id/6668671)

US Navy (USN) Blue Angels lead and opposing solo pilots, in F/A-18A Hornets, perform a crossing maneuver over Lake Washington during Seattle SEAFAIR events in Seattle, Washington (WA). SEAFAIR is Seattle’s month-long traditional summer festival, with parades, amateur athletics, air shows and boat racing. [2005] Local Identifier: 330-CFD-DN-SD-06-05018 (https://catalog.archives.gov/id/6668676)

After enjoying the festivities of Seafair, we decide to move on and continue our road trip. We head out on I-90, travelling East through the Cascade Mountains on our way to the Continental Divide and the Badlands.