Washington State Ferries Sails into its 75th Anniversary, with a number of Celebrations on Tap; Take in National Trails Day Saturday at Several Different Park Locations

Washington State Ferries officially celebrated its 75th anniversary this past Monday, June 1. A slew of events are being planned to recognize the milestone across Puget Sound  throughout the month of June.

Some Anniversary Events

On Sunday, June 7, the Bainbridge Youth Orchestra will perform on board the Seattle/Bainbridge route.

KNHC-FM C89.5 Public Radio will host live DJ sets on four ferries throughout June, bringing music to the sun decks and giving riders another way to celebrate. Dates include:

• Friday, June 5, on the following Seattle/Bainbridge Island route sailings: 3 p.m. out of Seattle, 3:50 p.m. out of Bainbridge, 4:45 p.m. out of Seattle and 5:35 p.m. out of Bainbridge.
• Friday, June 12, on the following Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth route sailings: 3:30 p.m. out of Fauntleroy, 3:55 p.m. out of Vashon, 4:15 p.m. out of Southworth and 4:40 p.m. out of Vashon.
• Thursday, June 18, on the following Edmonds/Kingston route sailings: 2:25 p.m. out of Edmonds, 3:10 p.m. out of Kingston, 3:55 p.m. out of Edmonds and 4:40 p.m. out of Kingston.
• Tuesday, June 30, on the following Seattle/Bremerton route sailings: 2:50 p.m. out of Seattle and 4:15 p.m. out of Bremerton.

Customers also are invited to follow WSF on social media for ways to win ferry swag throughout June. Follow on Instagram, Facebook, X and Bluesky for chances to win.

“Celebrating this milestone is a testament to everyone who has supported Washington State Ferries,” said Steve Nevey, Washington State Department of Transportation deputy secretary for WSF. “The effort put in by our deck and engine room crews, terminal staff, the warehouse, Eagle Harbor Maintenance Facility and headquarters to serve communities every day is incredible.”

For the uninitiated, Washington State took control of 18 ferries and 20 terminals across the Puget Sound region on June 1, 1951.

The routes had previously been operated by the Puget Sound Navigation Company, which become the largest inland ferry fleet in the world in 1935. The private company operated 28 round-trip sailings between Seattle and Bremerton each day, according to Office of the Secretary of State.

Washington State bought the ferry fleet and terminals for just under $5 million ($68,600,000 today) and was viewed by many at the time as “a temporary form of transportation which would soon be retired,” after the construction of more bridges, according to the state.

WSF, a division of the Washington State Department of Transportation, is the largest ferry system in the U.S. and safely and efficiently carries tens of millions of people a year through some of the most majestic scenery in the world. For the latest service updates, sign up for rider alerts and track each ferry using the real-time map online.

Some information gleaned from The Kitsap Sun https://enewspaper.kitsapsun.com/ 

Help celebrate National Trails Day, June 6, with a hike on an island trail – and munch a bag of special Trail Mix, courtesy of the Bainbridge Island Parks & Trails Foundation.Meet the Parks & Trails Foundation and get your Trail Mix at Gazzam Lake (Marshall Road trailhead), Fort Ward Park (boat launch trailhead) and Grand Forest East (Mandus Olson south), 8-11 a.m. while supplies last.

The Parks Foundation wishes to thank its longtime partners Puget Sound Energy for sponsoring our National Trails Day event.

Speaking of support, the Foundation is seeking donations for the Lost Valley Trail and boardwalk project. Participants in trail events are encouraged to help with a gift to help the parks’ meet its $10K Challenge Match on National Trails Day, with all gifts matched by Rotary Club of Bainbridge Island up to $10,000 total.

Lost Valley Trail will be the final link in a walkable, cross-island route from downtown Bainbridge Island to Gazzam Lake Preserve. The trail will cross 33 acres of public open space between the Head of the Bay/Wyatt Way and Fletcher Bay Road. It will include nearly 200 feet of elevated boardwalk to protect the Cooper Creek watershed and salmon stream.

The Parks & Trails Foundation is fundraising to complete the trail and boardwalk in time for a fall opening, in partnership with the Bainbridge Island Metro Park & Recreation District and City of Bainbridge Island.  

Information: www.biparksfoundation.org/build-trails

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