The Historical Seaport has announced a schedule of activities for the “South Side Sail-a-bration,” the grand opening of Seaport Landing on July 3 and 4, 2013. The public is invited to help us celebrate the opening the new tourism destination and home port facility. Food and beverages are provided, and the public is invited to watch the Aberdeen SPLASH fireworks over the Chehalis River from the historic wharf.

July 3

• 5 p.m., gates open
• 5:30 p.m., ribbon cutting, grand arrival of Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain
• 6 p.m., tours of Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain

July 4

• Noon to 6 p.m., public tours of Seaport Landing, Lady Washington, and Hawaiian Chieftain
• Noon to 6 p.m., classic car show
• Noon to 6 p.m., community garage sale
• Noon to 7 p.m., food prepared by Aberdeen Lions Club
• Noon to close, beer garden hosted by Captains Corner
• 9 p.m., Fireworks Sail (Buy at the link below)
• 10 p.m., Aberdeen SPLASH Fireworks

We hope to see at Seaport Landing!

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At 5:30 p.m. on July 3, 2013 after 24 years and thousands of miles at sea, Lady Washington is finally coming HOME. For the first time in her history, the Official Ship of the State of Washington has a permanent home at Seaport Landing in south Aberdeen. This has been a high-priority long-term goal of the Historical Seaport since we moved to our Junction City facility in 1999. To accomplish a goal this big takes dedication, focused effort and tremendous support.

To our many members and supporters who have helped us stay the course over the years, to our Bulfinch Society investors and our 500@$500 investors, I want to thank you all so much for your faith in our organization and your ongoing support. It has been a long journey to come to this point and I do hope you can join us on July 3rd and 4th as we celebrate this wonderful milestone!

I also want to recognize and extend special thanks to some very key people, without whom this never could have happened.The Seaport Landing Leadership team including former Secretary of State Ralph Munro, Past Board Chair Laura Rust, Mike Daniels, Lisa Scott, Bob Ford, Art Blauvelt, Michael Warner, Scott Reynvaan and George Donovan, Seaport Board members, Representative Brian Blake and the Coastal Caucus, Mayor Bill Simpson, the Aberdeen City Council, City Staff, and the Aberdeen Planning Commission, Our Aberdeen, Tim Gibbs and Greater Grays Harbor, Inc.

I also want to extend a special note of thanks to Dan Fulton, Scott Marshall, Ken Johnson, Joe Jackowski, Rob Laishley, Samantha Turner and the rest of the Weyerhaeuser crew, without whom this never would have happened. Thanks go to Dom Reale and Joyce Mercuri at the Washington Department of Ecology for their insight and help in understanding potential issues and implications. And, last but certainly not least, Commissioner for Public Lands, Peter Goldmark and his team at the Washington Deptartment of Natural Resources for their willingness to work with us to find a solution that would allow us to move forward as we resolve unanswered questions.

We now have a toehold and a small but dedicated crew working feverishly to get the site ready for the ships’ arrival. Dick (Tinker) Toy has done an amazing job of chasing down and resolving issues with the various systems on site. The Grays Harbor Sea Scouts, Aberdeen Lions. and dozens of individuals are making real progress, but we still have a long way to go. As I write this we have 21 days left before our ships come in. We will be working Monday through Saturday for the next 21 days to get things ready. Saturday work parties run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. If you can spare a few hours any other day, just give us a call and we will have a project ready when you arrive.

Regardless of what happens between now and then, THANK YOU ALL for your generous support and assistance! Please, come celebrate this special homecoming with us and learn about the next steps we will be taking as we move forward to redevelop this wonderful property.

I hope to see you soon at Seaport Landing!

It’s crunch time at Seaport Landing! Volunteers, staff, and Historical Seaport board members have dedicated many hours to preparing Seaport Landing for its grand opening on Wednesday, July 3. But there’s much more to do, including clean-up of public areas, removing brush and weeds, and guiding visitors during special events on July 3 and 4. We have regular work parties on the first and third Saturdays of each month from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the site, 500 N. Custer, St., Aberdeen. During June, work parties are scheduled on each Saturday. If you’re interested in becoming a volunteer team leader, we have short trainings on Thursday evenings before the scheduled work party.

Planning for the grand opening is starting to come together. Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain are scheduled to return to Grays Harbor on July 1, stopping first at Westport to rest up. On July 3, they’ll sail from Westport to Aberdeen, passing under the Chehalis River Bridge around 5 p.m. The public is invited to watch the boats come in. They’ll dock at the Seaport Landing wharf at 5:30 p.m., and the public is invited aboard to greet the crews. On Independence Day, Seaport Landing will host a classic car show and a swap meet. Finally, the ships will take guests out on the river to view the traditional Aberdeen SPLASH fireworks. All events, except the Fireworks Sail, are free. Donations are greatly appreciated.

We need your help to make the Seaport Landing Grand Opening a memorable event. To volunteer, contact Roxie Underwood, 800-200-5239, runderwood@historicalseaport.org. Purchase tickets for our Fireworks Sail below or call 800-200-5239.

All excursions in Pasco are sold out. The ships are open for tours Friday, 12-5, Saturday and Sunday, 10-1. Admission is by donation.

Tickets for Kalama June 25

Tickets for Ilwaco June 26-30

The brig Lady Washington, the Official Ship of Washington State, and the topsail ketch Hawaiian Chieftain, are on a seven-week tour of Columbia River ports. Below is the full port schedule for the ships’ river tour. (Click the links for schedule details and to purchase tickets.)

May 14-16, Astoria
May 16-17, Cathlamet
May 17-20, Rainier
May 20-22, St. Helens
May 22-28, Vancouver
May 28-29, Camas/Washougal
May 29-30, Stevenson
May 30-June 3, Hood River
June 3-5, The Dalles
June 5-6, Arlington
June 6-7, Umatilla
June 7-18, Pasco
June 18-19, Umatilla
June 19-20, Arlington
June 20-21, The Dalles
June 21-24, Stevenson (All sailings sold out.)
June 24-26, Kalama
June 26-July 2, Ilwaco

The ships will offer tours and public sailings in these ports: Astoria, Rainier, St. Helens, Vancouver, Stevenson, Hood River, The Dalles, Pasco, Kalama, and Ilwaco. For specific dates and times, visit the Public Sail Schedule. Activities include walk-on tours, which include an opportunity for visitors to tour the ships and speak with the crews, similar to an open house.

Sailing excursions include three-hour Battle Sails, featuring real cannon firing real gunpowder (but no cannon balls). Tickets are $60 adults, $50 students/seniors/active military, $40 children 12/under. Two-hour Adventure Sails include a chance to help raise a sail, learn a sea shanty, and take the helm of a real tall ship, conditions permitting. Tickets are $39 all ages. Also priced at $39, Evening Sails are two-hour sunset excursions similar to Adventure Sails. Some mid-week Evening Sail tickets are value-priced at $29 all ages. To purchase tickets, call 800-200-5239 or buy online. (Not all activities are available in all ports.)

The tall ship Lady Washington is featured in a new music video produced by the Seattle-based rapper Macklemore. The video promotes the artist’s single “Can’t Hold Us,” which is included on the 2011 album The Heist. The single has reached No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The video was released today on the online video site YouTube.

Macklemore and his music partner Ryan Lewis contacted Grays Harbor Historical Seaport Authority in the fall of 2012 to discuss chartering Lady Washington for a video shoot. The production team shot the video for “Can’t Hold Us” while the vessel was in Ventura, Calif., and Oakland, Calif. this year.

Donate now to support Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain’s educational programs!