Nestled alongside the Columbia River on the Long Beach Peninsula is the working fishing village of Ilwaco. Settled in 1851 by Henry Feister, it was home to the Ilwaco Railway and Navigation Company for over 30 years. And although there have been some changes to the area since the railway days, it doesn’t look much different than it did back then. Come along as we show you one of our favorite fishing villages in Washington!

Ilwaco is the site of some pretty important historical events.
Curtis Cronn / Flickr
Explorers Lewis and Clark passed through the area in 1805. Before that, trading ships would bargain with the local Chinook Indians for sea otter pelts in the 1700s.
Today, the Port of Ilwaco is a beautiful place to visit.
Discover Ilwaco Facebook
You’ll find shops, restaurants, and galleries on the historic Port of Ilwaco Boardwalk.
Learn about local history at the Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum.
Management / TripAdvisor
The museum is the result of a lot of hard work of early volunteers and has over 23,000 artifacts.
management / TripAdvisor
If you are into Washington State railroad history, you'll find some of the exhibits to be very fascinating.

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The commercial fishing boats at the marina might be modern...
Wikipedia/fcb981
... but everything else appears frozen in time.
Don’t miss seeing the oldest functioning lighthouse on the West Coast, which you’ll find at the historic Cape Disappointment State Park.
Bring Back Woods / Flickr
In 1788, English Captain John Meares missed the passage over the river bar while he was looking for the Columbia River. He named the nearby headland Cape Disappointment in "honor" of his failure.
The Lewis and Clark Expedition arrived there in 1805, and the Cape Disappointment Lighthouse was constructed in 1856. The North Head Lighthouse joined it a few decades later.
Mary Anne Thygesen / Flickr
In 1862, Cape Disappointment was armed with smoothbore cannons to protect the mouth of the Columbia River from enemies during the Civil War. Gun batteries are still in place at the park.
Change is inevitable, but it’s slow to come to Ilwaco.
timetraveler52 / TripAdvisor
When you’re walking through this quiet Washington town, you might feel like you’ve gone back in time.

For more information, check out the City of Ilwaco website.

So what do you think? Would you agree that it is one of the most charming fishing towns in Washington? We’d love to read your comments below!

What are some of your favorite fishing towns in Washington? What about your favorite small towns in Washington?

If you enjoy Ilwaco, go off the beaten path and explore some of Washington’s other charming historic villages.

For those who love hiking, you can find some great trails in and around the area by going to the AllTrails website.

Still in the mood for more Evergreen State adventures? Take a look at this video about the Native American History of Snoqualmie Falls:

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More to Explore

More Washington State Adventures

Lysa Allman-Baldwin | January 18, 2024

Where can we find small towns in Washington State?

  • Palouse is known for its wonderful antique and thrift stores.
  • Winlock is a big eye-producing town and home of the iconic "World's Largest Egg."
  • Langley is an island town with lots of great mom-and-pop restaurants and charming boutique shops.

Read on to learn more about some of the many other charming small towns in Washington State.

Where can we find annual events in Washington State?

  • The Juan de Fuca Festival in Port Angeles is a small-town music festival that features a wide array of international musical artists.
  • The Poulsbo Viking Fest in Poulsbo celebrates the town’s Nordic history.
  • The Long Beach Razor Clam Festival in Long Beach is a weekend-long festival of clams, tons of other seafood, and even razor clam-digging lessons.

Read on to learn more about some of the many other exciting annual events in Washington State.

Are there any celebrities from Washington State?

  • Adam West, who played "Batman" in the 1960s television series, lived in both Walla Walla and Seattle during his younger years.
  • Supermodel, television personality, and wife of John Legend, Chrissy Teigen lived in Snohomish as a teenager.
  • Actress and director Hilary Swank spent her childhood in Bellingham

Read on to learn more about some of the many other celebrities from Washington State.

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Ilwaco, WA, USA