| Washington is
one of the many small inner harbor towns the Ocean Highway connects in
North Carolina. Known originally as 'Forks of Tar', Washington was
renamed in 1776 after General George Washington. The town claims
to be the first 'Washington' in America to be named in honor of our first
President. Washington has a rich history of culture, commerce, and
industry that dates into the 1600s.
Washington's location at the head of the Pamlico River made it a great interior harbor for ships carrying goods and materials down the Pamlico River, through the Pamlico Sound, and out to the Atlantic Ocean to either Europe or other American ports. Today, Washington still celebrates its harbor. The Washington Waterfront, which is home to numerous shops and restaurants on its Boardwalk, host numerous boats from all over the world enticed by the ability to dock here without charge for 72 hours. One of the more popular activities to Washington visitor's is the two mile Historic District. Created in 1978, and listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the Washington Historic District includes over 600 properties in the central business district and nearby residential areas. The town offers various self-guided walking tours covering the entire historic district. One of the highlights of the area is the North Carolina Estuarium which is an educational center that highlights the history and the importance of the coastal rivers and sounds to the state and the environment. The Tar-Pamlico Estuary is the second largest in the nation, second only to the Chesapeake Bay system. |
Two views of Main Street in Downtown Washington. (Doug Kerr, May 29, 2006)
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