Send a postcard from Sequim.

Once upon a time not so very long ago, there was railroad service in this area. Supplies came west, and the farmers', loggers' and fishermen's products were sent to markets toward the east, on trains. The area train tracks are still shown on maps, even though they no longer exist.
	In1915, the tracks were laid by the (then) Chicago, Milwaukie, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad. The successor Company, the Milwaukie Road provided freight service from Port Angeles to Port Townsend, where the railcars were barged across Puget Sound. This continued until 1980, although passenger trains no longer ran here after 1930. For five years after that, the Seattle and North Coast Railroad ran the trains until they stopped. In 1982 the bridge was placed on the Register of National Historical Sites and the local park was created in 1991.

Work continues on the displays for the public; the Audubon Society has joined those providing information about this site and its niche in the lives of the animals and plants found here. This, the first Audubon Society Interpretive Center in Washington, was opened to the public by November 2001, but the finishing touches took a little longer. Nature and bird walks start at the Center during the summer season; check the newspapers for schedules.

A very special Postscript: At the River Festival in October, small schools of Coho Salmon were spotted by the excited and drenched festival-goers! -Yes, at last it rained after a very dry summer. The River Festival this year 2003 will be held September 26th and 27th, and the Organizers are looking for volunteers to assist. (360-681-4076) And the clouds came and snows and rains fell... the River reached flood stage in January 2002, quite an exciting time in this area.

Already in existance is an open-air ampitheatre for guide programs.

This whole project is a joint effort with help from the Rainshadow Natural Science Foundation, the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe, and the Audubon groups. The Washington Division of Natural Resources also has assisted. With such input it should be a winner. There is a natural science exhibit, a floor-to-ceiling Olympic Mountains model with real water and computer interactive displays in this new 1600 square foot building. And the animals - stop by and see how large the talons are on an eagle. Nearby the Railroad Bridge Park is an real eagle's nest... Mom has been raising her young there.

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