Page Text: ©2022 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED / 1204 MINOR AVE – SEATTLE, WA 98101 / P 206-624-9449 / F 206-624-2410
Maritime
Maritime Washington National Heritage Area
Spanning 3,000 miles of Washington State’s saltwater shoreline, the new Maritime Washington National Heritage Area (NHA) recognizes our state’s unique and diverse maritime cultures. This heritage area builds partnerships and increases collaboration to support our coastal communities in celebrating, maintaining, and sharing their water-based stories. The Maritime Washington NHA will work to:
Build a network of cross-sector partners dedicated to advancing and honoring Washington’s maritime cultures
Provide support and resources for communities and Tribes working to enhance and share maritime heritage
Share diverse stories and increase visibility of Washington’s maritime heritage, past and present
Encourage sustainable experiences of maritime heritage for residents and visitors alike
Preserve our region’s unique maritime identity, resources, and lifeways
Honoring Our Indigenous Peoples
We acknowledge that the Maritime Washington National Heritage Area spans the usual and accustomed lands of many tribes who play a major role in the history of our state. We honor and pay our respect to our indigenous neighbors who protect and preserve these lands and waterways, as they have since time immemorial.
Learn More
National Heritage Areas (NHAs) are designated by Congress as places where natural, cultural, and historic resources combine to form a cohesive, nationally important landscape. They can support historic preservation, economic development, environmental conservation, tourism, education, recreation, research, and more. NHAs are entirely non-regulatory, instead building partnerships to better tell the stories of these places and support communities in maintaining and sharing their unique resources.
This year, we’re working with local organizations and residents to determine what the NHA will look like and how it can best help our coastal communities. These collaborative efforts will culminate in a management plan for the MW-NHA, which will chart the course ahead for this new program. Check out the links below for more information on the establishment of the MW-NHA and how you can get involved.