Wandering Around Winthrop, Washington

Winthrop, Washingon, on the banks of the Methow and Chewuch Rivers, was originally inhabited by Native Americans, with visits from the occasional fur trapper in the early 19th century.  Gold was discovered here in 1868 and this brought permanent settlers who staffed the saw mill and daries, raised cattle, and supplied the local gold mines with goods.  In 1972, when State Highway 20 was completed through the mountains, Winthrop positioned itself as an eastern gateway to the Northern Cascade Mountains with a western-themed restoration.

The rivers

Western-themed main street

Fun on the rivers

Ice skating rink (for later in the year)

Homestream Park in Winthrop is dedicated to the salmon that return here years after hatching, after hundreds of river miles, thousands of ocean miles, and 9 dams (out and back).  Year after year, they return to their home stream.  The park, on 2 acres of riverfront, includes benches, sculptures, a tipi, and public areas on land that has been restored to its natural riparian and floodplane condition.

Story of the salmon

Sculpture of the salmon

Native Americans

Tribute to osprey at home

In 1919, Simon and Joyce Shafer bought farm and cattle property in Winthrop, but lost their investment in the harsh winter of 1919-1920.  They worked in local farms and saved enough money to buy into the Winthrop Meat Market which they transformed into a general merchandise store, the Shafer Store.  Selling everything from thread to plowshares, the store grew and collected a trove of tools and treasures from the valley, which, in 1948 were used to found the Shafer Museum with cabins, barns, stores, and farming, mining, and logging equipment from the valley.

Museum entrance

Winthrop history

Even though we're on the other side of the mountains from the ocean, dining in Whinthrop has a mqjor theme of fish.  We dine on fish burgers, fish tacos, and  fish and chips, often accompanied by locally-brewed craft beers.

Dinners in Winthrop

Winthrop is our base for exploring the Northern Cascade Mountain Range and over the next few days, we'll head up into the mountains a few miles to the west of us.