PORT TOWNSEND — Historical buildings that demonstrate Victorian-flavored tourist options are on display in Saturday’s Victorian Open Parlor Tours, featuring four town landmarks that are now used for lodging.
“A lot of people are coming because they like Victoriana,” said Nathan Barnett, who is organizing the event.
“Others are coming because Port Townsend is a gorgeous Victorian getaway and a great place to spend the holiday weekend.”
At $15, the tour is not particularly expensive and there is no ticket cap. Barnett said he expects about 20 or 30 people, “but we can handle more, as long as it’s not hundreds.”
If Barnett sells the projected number of tickets, he will net just a few hundred dollars, but that’s not the point.
“This is not really a fundraiser,” he said.
“The money we take in basically covers our costs, advertising and paying for tasty treats and musicians. At the end, it’s just a wash.”
The tour begins at 1 p.m. at the Old Consulate Inn, 313 Walker St.
The four buildings are, in tour order:
■ The Old Consulate Inn, also known as the Hastings House, is a National Historic Landmark and on the National Register of Preserved Places.
“The Red Victorian on the Hill,” as the inn has become known, has kept its original color through the years.
Trimmed in white with green accents, it hasn’t changed from how it must have looked over 100 years ago: A graceful, warm and friendly greeting from the town and a wide, sweeping verandah overlooking the bay.
■ The Commander’s Beach House, 400 Hudson St., was built in 1934 around the time when Fort Worden, Fort Flagler, Fort Casey and Old Fort Townsend were in their prime.
It was intended as the residence for the commanding medical officer of the U.S. Quarantine Station and has been occupied by a number of Coast Guard, Navy and Army commanding officers and their families.
It was decommissioned in 1955 and has been a bed-and-breakfast for the past 20 years.
■ The Quimper Inn, 1306 Franklin St., was built in 1888 and “renovated” in 1904 to reflect a craftsman interior rather than a standard Victorian layout.
This gives it a unique flavor with plate glass, closets and a large third floor living space, things not usually found in a Victorian home.
It was used as a rooming house during World War II and has been operated as a bed and breakfast since 1990.
■ The three-story Bishop Victorian Hotel, 714 Washington St., was built in 1891 as a freight storage facility by William Bishop Sr. at a cost of $15,000.
The hotel has assumed several incarnations through the years, including a carriage and buggy factory at the turn of the century, an attorney’s office and the Port Townsend Soda Works from 1911 through 1920.
Converted into apartments during World War II, the Bishop featured running water and electricity and housed many young married couples who made this building their first home together.
For more information or tickets, go to www.vicfest.org/yule.
Tickets also will be available at the Old Consulate Inn on the day of the event.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
