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The Washington Metropolis That Never Happened

GeoLex

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Tucked away on the edge of the Quimper Peninsula, Port Townsend, Washington was once destined to become the "New York City of the West." So, what happened? In this video, Geoff and Alexa explore how this picturesque maritime town went from a booming late-1800s seaport to a beautifully preserved time capsule.
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Chapters:
00:00 - The "New York City of the West"
01:24 - Port Townsend's Geographic Cheat Code
04:24 - The Last Wooden Fire Bell Tower
05:23 - How We Organize Our Gear (Bellroy Sponsor)
06:50 - The Captain's Dream vs. The Railroad
11:23 - Geography Trivia: Port Townsend vs. Astoria
13:49 - The Hood Canal Problem
16:09 - A Preserved Victorian Time Capsule
18:23 - Outro & What's Next (Tillamook)
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This video was filmed in March 2026.

20 Comments

@GeoLex.Travels Creator 5 months ago Pinned

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@D0K70R_online 5 months ago (edited)

As a Washingtonian, I really appreciate the PNW charm. If you’ve spent time in Port Townsend, you’ll find it has a very similar vibe to Fairhaven in Bellingham. That whole corridor is stunning. From the winding turns of Chuckanut Drive to the shores of Birch Bay and Semiahmoo. They are all absolute must-see spots in our neck of the woods.

(The San Juan Islands too!)

@jamielumm9583 5 months ago

Dudes! You missed the Port Townsend courthouse. It’s the most magnificent building in town and near the old post office.

@hoopaholicstickum 5 months ago (edited)

In the 80s I sold fiberglass products to boat builders in Port Townsend. We had a small satellite warehouse self serving about 6 builders who took products on the honor system calling in exactly what they took each time. We warned them if there was any theft, we’d shut down the warehouse. So they could get products at anytime they needed. We ran a 18 wheeler truck over once a week to restock the warehouse. This system worked for many years. Says a lot about the character of Port Townsend folks. One or two of the builders of sail boats had world wide reputations. as the sale rep for them, I would drive over 2 or 3 times a month…

@ClaytonCoffman 5 months ago (edited)

Make sure next time you go there visit the Fort Worden State Park. And climb the hill because much of the fort is hidden!

@Babipbandit 5 months ago

Just one slight correction: the Northern Pacific ultimately chose Tacoma and NOT Seattle as the terminus for its transcontinental railroad.

@curbozerboomer1773 5 months ago

The best person to ever grow up in Port Townsend--was my late wife! She came over to Seattle when she was 18, and we met while living in the same smallish apartment complex....within a year, we were married. I never thought I would fall for a small-town girl...but I was glad to do so!. Over the next 40 years, we frequently visited her grandma, who had lived in PT her entire life....grandma lived to be 100years old! Must have been that clean, healthy environment. Port Townsend feels like a place just made for Post Card snapshots...it is rustic, and charming.

@Raudoc2k1 5 months ago

I just want to say thank you for showing off Washington like you are. I see a lot of travel videos and WA and the rest of the PNW get left out most of the time. Its nice to learn a bit more about the history of the state I have called home for all my life. Thank you for what you do.

@bigcohiba298 5 months ago

The Jazz instrumental in 2:53 >>>>

@michaelroark2019 5 months ago

When I retired as a Professor of Geography, I moved nearby to Port Townsend because of the cultural landscape. It is truly unique in the Victorian architecture being so well preserved. But it is the dramatic vistas of the Sound and views of the mountains both the Olympics and the Cascades that are so incredible and give the place a character that few places on earth have.

You correctly identified the major issues of why Port Townsend never achieved the dream of being the metropolis of the Pacific Northwest, and you were also correct that if it had grown it would have faced major constraints of space to expand. But I am glad that it didn't grow to become Seattle because it is such a unique place that much would have been lost to the world.

@bohica76 5 months ago

you shouldve seen port townsend in nice weather, youd love it even more

@SagaciousSilence 5 months ago

I absolutely love this series of you two exploring the Pacific Northwest and explaining its history!

@jackdorn775 4 months ago

Great video! Born in raised in Seattle 54 and have never been to Port Townsend. It's time to check it out!!

@stuartf5648 5 months ago

Port Townsend is awesome! And rather windy!

@PublicRecordsGeek 5 months ago

So you got Waterfront Pizza, good on that. Missed the COURTHOUSE though on top of the hill (you LOVE big buildings!)

@hugohackenbush6474 5 months ago

Reminds me of Guthrie, Oklahoma. It was built in 1889 by the bankers, doctors, lawyers, and businessmen as Oklahoma’s capital. Gorgeous architecture. Proud and respectable.
Then in 1910 the capital was moved to Oklahoma City.

@BrigidaPlaysDiscGolf 5 months ago

Im Alaskan, and had to move to Washington for medical care, and ill always miss Alaska, but wow i really do love living in Washington. It has SO much to offer, i love it. Theres always something to explore

@OldMaTries 5 months ago (edited)

I'm 3rd-generation born in Port Townsend (and I now work at the hospital), I'm happy that you added all the history and facts! Great video!
BTW, the Victorian home you introduced is the Starrett house (not Starlett)