PORT TOWNSEND — More than 550 community members of all ages headed to their local libraries in Jefferson County to view the solar eclipse that covered more than 90 percent of the sun.
They viewed the phenomenon — the first in 99 years to cross both coasts of the United States — using donated and shared protective glasses and a variety of pinhole viewers.
“We just showed up partially because we didn’t have eclipse glasses,” said Brian Rogers of Port Townsend.
“When we got here we found it’s this lovely community event where everyone is sharing the experience. I think that says something really lovely about Port Townsend.”
At the Port Townsend Public Library roughly 250 people came out to view the eclipse as the moon moved in front of the sun. The library received a donation of eclipse viewing glasses from the Friends of Port Townsend Library, which was then reimbursed with a $220 donation from an anonymous donor on Monday morning, according to Keith Darrock, library manager of public and technical services.
All 71 protective glasses were handed out by 8:21 a.m., well before the eclipse began at 9:08 a.m.
“I got here around 7:30 and there were already people lined up at the door,” said Hilary Verheggen, library manager of youth services.
“Everyone has been really grateful that we had the glasses and even though we only had 71 glasses to hand out, so many people were willing to share.”
Aside from the glasses, the library also provided pinhole viewers made out of cereal boxes and sheets of paper that could be used to safely watch the partial eclipse. A livestream from NASA was also played upstairs in the library to provide a close-up view of the eclipse.
The total eclipse arced across the central states from Oregon to South Carolina. Only a partial eclipse was visible on the North Olympic Peninsula.
“It’s a wonderful event,” said Shannon Taylor who brought her children — Kaylia, 7, and Jeremiah, 9. “We home-school our kids so it’s educational for them.”
The library also handed out information pamphlets that explained the science behind the solar eclipse and gave instructions on how to view it safely.
“It’s great to see everyone come together and watch this,” said Alyssa Rodrigues, who brought her daughters Ava, Kaida and Lexi to watch the eclipse.
A similar event was held at the Jefferson County Library in Port Hadlock and attracted over 300 people who came out to view the eclipse through the 200 glasses donated by the Friends of Jefferson County Library.
“I was impressed with how generous everyone was with the glasses,” said Chris HoffmanHill, the public services manager for the Jefferson County Library.
“People would just pass them on to people who didn’t have glasses so they could look.”
People also made or brought various pinhole viewers, including colanders, which were a popular method, according to HoffmanHill.
The holes in the colanders act the same as the paper pinhole viewers and project a reflection of the eclipse in its shadow when held up to the sun.
At the Port Townsend Library people noted that the small spaces between the leaves on the trees also projected a crescent shape that was easily seen during the height of the eclipse, around 10:46 a.m.
The Port Angeles Library also hosted a solar eclipse viewing party, drawing at least 200 people.
In both counties, people poured out of busnesses and homes to see the celestial phenomenon.
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Jefferson County Editor/Reporter Cydney McFarland can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 55052, or at cmcfarland@peninsuladailynews.com.
A few dozen people watched the NASA livestream of Monday’s solar eclipse at the Port Townsend Public Library. Outside the library, over 200 people watched through a variety of pinhole viewers and protective glasses. (Cydney McFarland/Peninsula Daily News)
Lauren Davis and Charlie Arthur watch Monday’s eclipse through protective glasses in the grass in front of the Port Townsend Library along with over 200 other people. (Cydney McFarland/Peninsula Daily News)
