Explore Bellingham’s coastline and history aboard a sunset cruise, narrated by a historian
Have you ever wanted to explore Bellingham’s rich history and scenic coastline from a boat? Now you can.
The Whatcom Museum is hosting History Sunset Cruises for its 37th summer, taking guests on a journey across Bellingham Bay and into its history.
The Whatcom Museum hosts these cruises on Tuesday nights each summer, with this season running from July 9 to Sept. 10. The Bellingham Herald hopped aboard this historic cruise on July 30 to give you an inside look into this unique Bellingham experience.
After purchasing your tickets online, you’ll be able to arrive at the Bellingham Cruise and Ferry Terminal, and hop aboard the Victoria Star, a 100-foot boat that features two levels of seating, indoor and outdoor areas, as well as a snack bar and full bar serving beer, wine and cocktails.
On board, visitors can embrace the nautical ambiance with signature cocktails such as the “Seaweed Shaker,” “Rosario Rum Runner,” and “Lopez Lemonade.”
The boat boards at 5:45 p.m., and returns to the terminal at 8 p.m.
The cruise is narrated by Brian Griffin, a 92-year-old historian who has lived in Bellingham his whole life and has published many local history books. Griffin has narrated the museum’s history cruises for sixteen years.
“My goal is to support the Museum which I believe is a vital piece of the cultural life of the community. I know that the profits from these cruises is important to the financial health of the museum. I greatly enjoy doing the cruise narration and hope that guests will come away with a better sense of how the community they share came about,” Griffin wrote in an email to The Bellingham Herald.
Once aboard, you’ll start your cruise headed south, hearing about the history of the boat, Bellingham’s cruise terminal, Bellingham’s railroad and beaches.
Along your cruise ride, you can sit inside to hear Griffin’s historical narration and facts or follow along with his slideshow presentation. If you’re a history buff who wants to hear the entire commentary, sit inside. Outdoor seating does offer amazing views, but sometimes it is difficult to hear the commentary.
The cruise will head down through Chuckanut Bay and in between Clark’s Point, as Griffin teaches the history of the land, parks, and local animals like otters, seals and bald eagles you may spot on your journey.
“If the cruises are unique it is because they offer a view of the community from the water. Most citizens have no other opportunity to see Bellingham from that perspective nor do they have an opportunity to learn of our history verbally,” Griffin wrote.
The cruise continues to follow the coastline south, allowing viewers to sneak a peek at some large homes, private beaches and cars driving through the tree-lined Chuckanut Drive.
Griffin also puts history in the context of his childhood, telling stories from growing up in Bellingham and noting how much the area has changed throughout his 92 years.
“I enjoy telling of my childhood playing along the old mill site which is now Boulevard Park, of the wartime machine gun nests, the industrial structures that are no longer existing but were such important features of the community and its economy. I love to tell the stories like the naming of Vendovi Island, the changing course of the Nooksack, and the immensity of the glaciers which once shaped our land,” Griffin wrote.
The cruise makes a straight shot north, all the way up to the Bellingham Marina. Riders will be able to catch a glimpse of Mount Baker on clear days as they hear the history of Lummi Nation, a house that homed the first white settlers in Bellingham, Bellingham Cold Storage and the Hotel Bellwether.
The unique cruise experience highlights Bellingham’s beauty and history, along with its community and diversity.
Only four more sailings are scheduled for 2024.
“If Bellingham is unique it is surely because it is a small city with a large university situated in the cusp of natural beauty. The mountains, the sea and the agricultural land that surround us offer boundless opportunity and inspiration to those of us who call this home. A community where people really care and support with their energy and their treasure an incredible cultural level,” Griffin wrote.
Tickets for the cruise cost $50 to the public and $40 for museum members. Children ages 5 and under cruise for free but preregistration is required. Tickets can be purchased online in advance, or at the museum store from noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday at 250 Flora St. in Bellingham.
All proceeds from the cruises go to the Whatcom Museum’s educational programs and exhibitions.
The cruise also allows you to pack your own food and nonalcoholic drinks. We also recommend packing binoculars, cameras and a rain jacket.
The Bellingham Cruise and Ferry Terminal is at 355 Harris Ave. in Bellingham.
This story was originally published August 18, 2024 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Explore Bellingham’s coastline and history aboard a sunset cruise, narrated by a historian."
