Twenty-eight existing Skagit County structures are currently on the National Register of Historic Places – established in 1966 by the National Historic Preservation Act. Nine of those 28 historic sites can be found in just one place: Anacortes, a city known for its small-town charm and proximity to seaside recreation. Many of the following locations are also part of the city’s own historic registry. Take some time to visit these historic spots in Anacortes.
Anacortes Public Library
Added: 1977
Location: 1305 Eighth Street
From the late 1800s to early 1900s, philanthropist Andrew Carnegie donated millions of dollars to fund thousands of libraries across the United States. Between 1901 and 1916, 33 Carnegie grants – totaling roughly $1 million – were awarded to build 43 Washington libraries. Of those, 32 still stand today, but only 14 are still libraries.
The Anacortes Public Library building was constructed in 1909 with a $10,000 grant, and was designed by Bellingham architects William Cox and F. Stanley Piper. The latter man designed several of his city’s iconic structures, including the Bellingham Herald and Bellingham National Bank buildings.
The Anacortes Public Library was the city’s first building constructed solely to house a library, and it remained the city’s library through 1967. Since then, it has housed the Anacortes Museum of History and Art.
California Fruit Store
Added: 1987
Location: 909 Third Street
Constructed sometime around 1900, the California Fruit Store is a two-story wood frame commercial structure that remains both well-preserved and among the last of its kind in Anacortes. The building actually sat about a block away from its present location until sometime between 1925 and 1930, when it was moved.
It has served as a saloon and apartment building, as well as its titular grocery store. The building was also home to the Blue Bird Café, and was eventually converted to a boat building shop. Today, the building’s first floor is an annex studio of Fidalgo Dance Works, while the upstairs is a spacious apartment.
Causland Memorial Park
Added: 1981
Location: Eighth Street and M Avenue
Opened in 1904, Causland Park was the first city park in Anacortes. Originally known as Great Northern Park due the city purchasing its acreage from the Great Northern Railway, the park achieved its current name in 1919 as a memorial to fallen World War I soldiers.
Its namesake, Harry Leon Causland, was a Guemes Island local who died heroically in October 1918 during combat in France. Canadian architect Jean Baptiste LePage re-designed the park, crafting a bandstand and amphitheater from thousands of locally-gathered stones. The park re-opened in 1921, and over the years displayed several historic cannons (including a current 75mm Howitzer from World War II).
Today, the two-acre park holds memorial walls to honor local fallen soldiers from the 20th Century’s four major wars.
Great Northern Railroad Depot
Added: 1987
Location: 611 R Avenue
Built in 1911 at a cost of $25,000 (roughly $800,000 today), the Tudor-style Great Northern Depot served as a passenger train waypoint until about 1930. It continued being used as a freight depot into the early 1970s, and was purchased by the city in 1981.
It remains a well-preserved example of an early 20th century railroad depot, and today houses the Anacortes Farmers Market and the Depot Arts & Community Center.
Marine Supply and Hardware Complex
Added: 1987
Location: 202 Commercial Avenue
Consisting of four early 1900s-built wooden commercial buildings joined together, the Marine Supply and Hardware Complex held various businesses, including the Anchorage Confectionary in 1907. Beginning in 1920, the structure began its current use, seeing decades of storage and retail space under the multi-generational ownership of the Demopoulos family.
La Merced
Added: 1990
Location: Anacortes waterfront off Oakes Avenue
Originally a four-masted schooner, the weathered hull of the La Merced is all that’s left of a vessel that was once 232 feet long. Built in 1917, the La Mercedwas used to ship petroleum products across the Pacific Ocean, and also spent time as a floating Alaskan cannery.
In 1965, the vessel was sold and salvaged before being moved to an Anacortes shipyard and put in place as a breakwater, where it has remained ever since.
Wilson Hotel
Added: 2004
Location: 804 Commercial Avenue
Among several hotels constructed during the city’s 1890 building boom as Anacortes speculatively competed to be the western terminus of the Great Northern Railway, the Wilson Hotel opened in 1891.
It originally featured 62 rooms, a parlor, dining room and bar, and was among the first buildings in Anacortes to receive telephone and electric services. Its proximity to a nearby railroad depot also made it favored lodging for visitors.
The Panic of 1893 closed the hotel, but in 1901 the Funk family – owners of the Anacortes American – took possession of the building. It reopened in 1911 as the New Wilson Hotel, complete with steam heat. A 1926 addition created a concrete annex to the building, which served as a hotel into the 1970s.
Today, the Wilson Hotel Building is privately-owned, feature main floor retail and second-floor low-income apartments.
W.T. Preston
Added: 1979
Location: 1703 R Avenue
Located a short distance from the Great Northern Depot, the 1939-built W.T. Prestonsits in all its former glory, complete with a large sternwheel. Once operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the 163-foot-long vessel is one of only two surviving Army Corps snagboats in the entire country. As their name suggests, snagboats were used to remove trees or other debris from rivers.
The W.T. Preston remained in-service until the early 1980s, when it was transferred to the City of Anacortes. It is now part of the Maritime Heritage Center.
Fraternal Order of Eagles Hall
Added: 2019
Location: 901 Seventh Street
Built in 1920, this two-story Neo-Classical style brick building was designed by Emil Guenther for the local Fraternal Order of Eagles. Over the decades, it has hosted many an event in its ballroom. The building has remained temporarily closed since 2023, pending construction evaluation.
