The City of Bellingham – located in the far northwest corner of Washington state, is just 90 miles north of Seattle on Interstate-5 and 50 miles south of Vancouver, British Columbia. Nestled on Bellingham Bay, this city offers breathtaking views of the San Juan Islands, Mount Baker and the Cascade Mountains. Bellingham is also a college town home to Western Washington University, Whatcom Community College and Bellingham Technical College. It has a population of nearly 70,000 and an elevation of 60 feet above sea level.

History

Natives

Long before the first Euro-settlers came to this area it was home to several Coast Salish Native Tribes. The Lummis of Lummi Peninsula and the Nooksack tribe that lived up river lived off the fish and shellfish of this area. The first European settlers were led to the bay in canoes by Lummis who also helped clear the land and build the first buildings here, providing food and helping them survive their first winter here.

City Pages

Bellingham

Settlers

A photo of the Museum is loading......... Bellingham received its name in 1792 when Captain George Vancouver, an English explorer, sailed into the Bay and named it after Sir William Bellingham a controller in the British Navy. Soon settlers came to the area and four different towns were platted. Whatcom founded in 1852, Fairhaven founded in 1853, New Whatcom (Sehome & Fairhaven) founded in 1854, and Bellingham founded in 1853. Each town had its own interests and personality, but they came together to form one. Bellingham was incorporated in 1903 and consolidated the four cities on the bay.

Industry

In 1852 Henry Roeder and Russell Peabody built a saw mill at Whatcom Falls. Also in 1852 coal was discovered, soon the Bellingham Mine was the largest coal mine in the state yielding at its peak 125,000 tons of coal each day. Bellingham was also an early home to the world's largest salmon cannery. Bellingham and Whatcom County's economic base was dependent on agriculture, fishing, forestry, and mining up until the early 1950's. Then the economy shifted towards manufacturing, trade, and services.

Getting Around

Bellingham has connections through its waterfront to Alaska, Vancouver Island, the Canadian Gulf Islands and San Juan Islands. Bellingham is also the last major city on Interstate-5 before the Canadian Border. Interstate-5 cuts right through the City of Bellingham. Visit our Bellingham Exit by Exit page for details about each exit.

The streets in the City of Bellingham are a challenge to navigate because it is made up of the plots for four separate towns. To make navigating through the city easier we have divided the Bellingham area of our site into three different sections.

A photo of Fairhaven is loading.... Fairhaven is a historical district on the south side of Bellingham. The area is filled with unique shops, boutiques and restaurants. Fairhaven is also Bellingham’s major transportation hub. In Fairhaven you will find the Bellingham Cruise Terminal where the Alaska Ferry departs from each week. The Amtrak /Greyhound station is also located in Fairhaven. Amtrak offers train service between Portland, Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia making stops in Blaine, Bellingham, Mount Vernon and Everett.

Downtown Bellingham is a family friendly area filled with many retail shops, art galleries, restaurants and several museums including the Whatcom Museum of History and Art pictured above. Located just downhill from the central downtown area are Old Town and the Waterfront Areas. In Old Town you can find a variety of antique shops and cafes as well as Maritime Heritage Park and the fish hatchery. The waterfront is home to a marina full of beautiful boats, a marine life touch tank, exquisite restaurants and luxurious lodging accommodations.

North Bellingham which refers to the areas of north of downtown. In general it is the area along Interstate-5 Exits 255, 256, 257, and 258. In this area of Bellingham you will find The Bellingham International Airport, Whatcom Community College, Bellingham Technical College, Bellis Fair Mall, and several other small shopping centers.

There is a larger, low resolution copy of this map at the bottom of this page.

Shopping –

Shopping Malls

Bellis Fair Mall

Interstate-5 Exit 256

Bellingham, WA

http://www.bellisfair.com/html/

Located at the north end of Bellingham the Mall and surrounding shopping centers are a major regional shopping area. This area contains the newest of the city’s shopping area and this is by far the largest area with the most retail shops.

Bellis Fair Mall

Sunset Mall Area

Interstate-5 Exit 255

Sunset Square

Sunset Square is one of Bellingham’s major shopping areas. It is relatively new and contains all outdoor store entrances.

The entrance to this shopping area is to the east of Exit 255 on Interstate-5

Barkley Village Area

http://www.barkleydistrict.com/

Barkley Village is one of Bellingham’s newest shopping areas. It is a new concept in neighborhood shopping areas.

Interstate-5 Exit 255 travel east one mile on Sunset Drive to the light at Hannegan Rd./Woburn St. and turn right onto Woburn and go two blocks.

Historic Fairhaven

http://www.fairhaven.com/

Located in south Bellingham it was in disrepair for over 50 years until it gained popularity in the 1980’s when some forward thinking developers invested in the area and is now a thriving tourist and shopping area. There is a website that serves the Fairhaven Area

Interstate-5 Exit 250 – Take Fairhaven Parkway west for about 2 miles.

Downtown Bellingham

Downtown Bellingham was nearly a ghost town after Bellis Fair Mall was built but it the years since then it has revived and is a pleasant atmosphere with lots of specialty shops and restaurants.

Interstate-5 Exit 253 – turn west go 4 blocks to Ellis and take a 45° to the right onto Holly. Go to Cornwall Ave and you are at city center. Go one block farther, turn right and you are at the entrance to the downtown parking garage.

Northwest Avenue Area

Interstate-5 Exit 257 Northwest Avenue – turn south and go about 1 mi. on Northwest Ave. This is one of Bellingham’s older shopping areas with two strip malls and many freestanding businesses.

Bellingham

City Page

Restaurants

Lodging

Shopping

Places to go and things to do

The Mt. Baker Scenic Byway offers a 60 mile trip to Mt. Baker Ski Area up the Nooksack River Valley. There are farms, a winery, old growth forests, and parks along the byway.

The Mt. Baker Scenic Byway

Campgrounds in the National Forest

http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/mbs/recreation/activities/campgrounds/

Whale Watching Cruises

For a uniquely Washington State experience, take a day to see Puget Sound. There are hundreds of islands in the Greater Puget Sound (for simplicity we include the San Juan Islands and the Canadian Gulf Islands). There are three pods of Orca Whales that call these waters home. On occasion you may also see grey or minke whales in the Sound. These whale watching excursions offer seeing these animals in their native environment.

Whale Watching	Transportation
*Island Mariner Cruises* 5 Harbor Loop Bellingham, WA 98225 360-734-8866 or 1-877-734-8866 http://www.orcawatch.com Experience the breath-taking San Juan Islands and see some whales, too. On their 70-90 mile cruises into the San Juan Islands, you will experience a seven hour long narrated scenic tour by qualified naturalists. There are always at least 2 on board. The San Juan Islands are home to extensive bird species like the Tufted Puffin, Peregrine Falcon and Bald Eagle, as well as Harbor Seals, Porpoises, Sea Lions, Minke & Gray Whales. Orca or Killer Whales are the main focus of the tour but their onboard naturalists will give you the history of the area, guide you through the geology of the Islands, point out significant landmarks such as lighthouses. The experience of seeing the whales in their natural setting is extraordinary, and at times they breach so close to the boat that you get splashed! Over 80 resident Orca whales make up "J", "K" & "L" pods, who call these waters home.	The Bellingham International Airport 4255 Mitchell Way Bellingham, WA 98225 http://www.portofbellingham.com Located on the north side of Bellingham, the Bellingham International Airport (BLI) is just 39 minutes to SeaTac by commuter aircraft. This full service commercial airport accommodates more than 200,000 travelers each year. Also available at the airport are car rental services, gift shop and café. For more information see our North End page. Alaska Ferry http://www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs/index.html Bellingham is the south terminal for the Alaska Marine Highway system. Ferries run regularly from Bellingham to Alaska. Amtrak http://www.amtrak.com/ Amtrak runs passenger trains both north to Vancouver BC and south to Seattle, WA from Bellingham Greyhound http://www.greyhound.com/ Greyhound runs passenger busses both north to Vancouver BC and south to Seattle, WA from Bellingham For more information on The Alaska Ferry, Amtrak or Greyhound visit our Fairhaven page. Cruises to the San Juan Islands See our Fairhaven page
Yacht Charters
*Rosy Custom Cruises* 2814 40^th Street Bellingham, WA 98229-9231 360-676-0740 of cell: 360-201-9231 http://www.rosycruises.com/ A retired couple (master with captain’s license) owns this 36-foot cruiser. They offer custom cruises on Bellingham Bay and into the San Juan Islands. They have several standard cruises and prices on their web site. This is a great opportunity for the visitor to the northwest to see what it is like to own our own yacht and cruise into the islands and have the safety of a licensed captain that can give you a safe trip.

Theater and the Arts

The Mt. Baker Theater http://www.mountbakertheatre.com/ A community theater.

Bellingham Farmers Market is held on Saturdays downtown, Tuesdays in Barkley Village, and Wednesdays in the Historic Fairhaven District.

http://www.bellinghamfarmers.org/

Visitor Information

Bellingham Whatcom County Chamber http://www.bellingham.com/

Bellingham ~ Whatcom County Visitors Bureau http://www.bellingham.org/

Bellingham Parks and Recreation http://www.cob.org/parks/index.htm

Western Washington University is located atop a hill overlooking Bellingham Bay

http://www.wwu.edu/home.shtml

The Port of Bellingham

http://www.portofbellingham.com/

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