Coupeville Washington Tourism

Coupeville, a step back into 19th century Island living, is justifiably proud of its finely preserved Victorian homes; original blockhouses built as defense against the 1850’s Indian uprisings; and historic Front Street with wonderful restaurants and fascinating shops including the Island County Historical Museum and one of the only remaining original wharfs and wharf building in the Pacific Northwest.

Founded in 1852, Coupeville is the government seat of Island County and lies in the heart of Ebey’s Landing National Historic Reserve, established by Congress in 1978 as the first reserve in the nation with the mandate to preserve the 1850’s rural character of its 25 square miles including farmlands, beaches, parks, trails and 91 nationally registered historic structures.

The historically restored Coupeville Wharf building permanently exhibits a full gray whale skeleton reassembled in the late 1990’s through the efforts of community volunteers and the Island County/Washington State University Beach Watchers. Fondly nicknamed “Rosie”, the skeleton was joined by a second skeleton, that of a Dall’s Porpoise, “Rudy” in 2006. Several marine exhibits, interpretive displays and an underwater camera also give visitors a glimpse of Coupeville’s marine environment.

Two State Parks within a few short miles of Coupeville are Fort Ebey and Fort Casey State Parks, both with World War I gun batteries and bunkers, miles of beach trails, and tent and RV camping facilities. A fully restored 1900’s lighthouse houses an interpretive center and gift shop. Fort Casey Underwater Park is nearby for the scuba enthusiasts.

Festivals abound throughout the year starting with the March Penn Cove MusselFest featuring the world famous Penn Cove Mussels; the May Water Festival celebrating the revived native American canoe races of the 1930’s; the June WharfFest focusing on steam powered water and land transportation; the August Arts and Crafts Festival which is the longest running festival in Washington; the September Kite Festival; the Fall HarvestFest and month long Scarecrow corridor; and lastly, the Coupeville Greening, a return to the Christmas’s of our heart’s memory. A unique addition to the activity list is the Coupeville Arts Center Plein Air Competition where artists from around the nation converge on the Island painting gorgeous land and seascapes for two and one half days. The winners are announced at an elegant gala and the recently painted works are available through a silent auction.