Port Angeles Vision

“It should be the highest ambition of every American to extend his views beyond himself.” -George Washington

Have you ever had someone say, “Oh, it can’t be done, that’s just impossible.” Christopher Columbus broke with conventional wisdom and proved that the world was round. George Washington led a band of rag-tag soldiers to defeat the strongest army in the world and establish a nation where individual freedom and a constitution ruled, instead of a tyrant’s whim.

Some people think that the city of Port Angeles has to remain an eyesore to our visitors who come ashore. Put yourself in the shoes of a well-travelled tourist as he steps off the ferry and is greeted by our city’s ugly waterfront which makes him eager to leave it behind. Just how many of our visitors want to linger and enjoy our waterfront and downtown? What kind of a reputation does this first-impression experience generate?

I’ve heard it said in the hospitality business that a negative experience is broadcast to 18 people, whereas a positive experience is only passed on to 2 people. Negative experiences are very expensive and need to be avoided at all costs. Realistically, measured alongside other port destinations, where does Port Angeles rate? Are we going to let the status quo keep Port Angeles from being all that it can be?

Along with the Olympic Mountains and Strait of Juan de Fuca, we have a natural breakwater and deep harbor that would be the envy of any port city. With a history that touches an early Indian fishing village, a naming by Spanish explorers and a formation as a townsite by Abraham Lincoln’s executive order, let’s hear it from those who love Port Angeles and want to help shape its future. Why does our waterfront look like a wasteland today? The need for stewardship cries out. The development of our greatest asset should be the top priority. Politicians who refuse to provide leadership and seek to maintain the status quo need to be challenged and held accountable. Nature and history have done their part, but today’s leadership is failing us miserably.