If you've lived in Washington for longer than about five minutes, you've probably heard of Seattle's underground tour. But did you know that the city of Port Angeles also has an underground area to explore? While the Port Angeles Underground Tour has been on hold due to current conditions, it won't be long before you can tour this exciting, little known piece of our past.
In the early 1900s, the city of Port Angeles was thriving... aside from a rather major flooding problem.
Unfortunately, with the flooding came an extremely unpleasant stench from the sewage that flooded along with the water.
The locals begged the city council to do something about the smell. In 1914, they finally did.
The streets were raised by about 14 feet, keeping the water and sewage where it belonged, underground.
Many buildings were torn down, although some opted to build second stories to stay in business.
This created a rather strange network of underground storefronts and tunnels.
The street raising was done by sluicing dirt from the adjoining hill into the street using wooden pipes and concrete walls, which was done entirely by hand.
The businesses below were largely preserved, which led to the possibility of the underground tour.
The tour lasts about two hours, and it begins with an explanation of the history of the city and the tactics used to raise the streets.
Then, you'll take a tour through downtown Port Angeles to explore old tunnels and basements. You'll even get to see a hidden brothel.
The Underground Heritage Tour in Port Angeles provides insights from the past that helps explain the present.
If you've ever been curious about this city's history, this is the best way to discover it.
The Port Angeles Underground Heritage Tour will resume soon. For more information, check out the website.
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