Maritime Resource Center and Collection

In a town bordered on nearly four sides by salt water, it seems right that more than 2,000 books, plus video and audio recordings–on a wide range of maritime topics–can be found at Port Townsend Library's Maritime Resource Center.

This is real information about real things boatbuilders and refitters need to know. Within the Library's Maritime Resource Center, users can find practical information on boatbuilding and design, maritime history, rigging, sailmaking, canvas work, marine electrical systems and electronics, marine engines, ocean voyaging, navigation, sailing, kayaking and canoeing and just about anything else of a maritime nature.

This outstanding collection was established in 1993 by a Federal Library Services and Construction Act grant from the Washington State Library and has continued to grow ever since. In fact, Port Townsend Library now has one of the largest and strongest maritime collections on the west coast.

Areas of particular collection strength include wooden boatbuilding, yacht design, history of traditional craft, and voyaging narratives. The library also subscribes to 11 maritime periodicals, including WoodenBoat and Classic Boat magazines. Click here to search the library catalog.

Northwest Maritime Center - H.W. McCurdy Library

The maritime collection of the Wooden Boat Foundation is located in the H.W.McCurdy Library at the Northwest Maritime Center. This collection is now available for check out, all titles are listed in the CLAN catalog. You may visit the H.W. McCurdy Library right next to the Point Hudson marina, upstairs in the yellow NWMC building at 431 Water St. Open hours are 9-5 M-F. You may also place holds from the catalog to have books delivered to the Port Townsend or Jefferson County Library. We encourage you to visit the H.W. McCurdy library to explore the Wooden Boat Foundation's extensive maritime collection

MARITIME WEB SITES:

Jefferson County Historical Society, maritime history page

Wooden Boat Foundation

Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding

John's Nautical and Boatbuilding page: "The mother of all maritime links"

"Ships and Shipping" database from the Tacoma Public Library Northwest Room

Index to ships in books

Mystic Seaport: WoodenBoat publications (includes an online index of Woodenboat magazine)

WoodenBoat publications: (includes an online index of Woodenboat magazine)

Classic boat: includes an index of European yachting magazines

Duckworks: An online magazine for amateur boat builders