Wharf and boating facility.

CONTENTS
Introduction
Purpose
History
Activities

Introduction

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Coupeville is situated on the south side of a sheltered inlet known as Penn Cove. The town was originally built as a small port and its primary business was the import and export of goods between the island and the mainland. The wharf and associated buildings were all part of this essential commerce.

Purpose

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Although the wharf was originally built for transportation and storage of locally grown grain and other goods as well as ferry services for people, nowadays the wharf and boating facility primarily provide for pleasure activities.

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History

1905	Coupeville Wharf built by a company comprised of local merchants and farmers
1909	The existing building shown on a fire insurance map.
1914	Elmer Calhoun purchased the Wharf and added a grain tower to the "L" shaped building. The north side of the building included a waiting room and a rest room (two holer) for steam boat passengers.
1933	Elmer Calhoun made major repairs to the Wharf building
1936	Island Transportation discontinued steamboat service to Seattle. Freight boats continued to use the Wharf during harvest.
1949	Dick Hansen purchased the Wharf for a warehouse and grain screening mill.
1969	The new Port of Coupeville purchased the Wharf for $28,400.
1978	The Coupeville Wharf was registered as an historic structure within Ebey's Landing National Historic Reserve.
1985	The grain tower was removed and the causeway was renovated.
1986	Mike Williams opened his Harbors store.
1996	The Wharf was rehabilitated consistent with historical code standards and historical considerations. A concrete fuel dock was added to the wharf and an underground fuel tank was installed at the landward end of the causeway. Three mooring floats were attached to the Wharf for the use of pleasure boats.
2001	Two moorage floats were added and unused dolphins removed. Four mooring buoys were placed in a line west of the Wharf.

Activities

Breezeway Exhibits

In a partnership with Washington State University (WSU), the Port hosts several marine exhibits provided by the WSU - Beach Watchers. THese consist of an underwater camera, various interpretive displays and two marine mammal skeletons.

ROSIE

One skeleton suspended from the ceiling of the wharf building is that of a young Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus) whose 32.4 foot body was found on the northwest side if Whidbey Island in December 1998. Biologist Matt Klope, Island County/WSU Beach Watchers and other community volunteers worked to rescue the skeleton and carefully re-articulate it piece by piece. Through these efforts, the whale is here today to educate residents and visitors of Whidbey Island about the wonders of whales.

Nicknamed Rosie by the community, the whale was most likely 15' - 16' in length at birth, and three years old when he died. Had he lived a full life of 50 years or more, he would have grown to a length of 40' - 45' and a weight of 30 tons. He would have reached sexual maturity at five to eleven years of age.

The gray whale gets its name from its mottled gray skin, which is covered in barnacles and "whale lice." Many biologists believe Gray whales may have been among the first of the great whales to have evolved in their present form. The Gray whale has two blowholes, and its "spout" resembles a heart shape.

The other skeleton is that of a Dall's Porpoise, also preserved and presented by the WSU Beach Watchers in 2006. This porpoise washed ashore on Valentines day 2004 and so was called Rudolph Valentino, Rudy for short.

Harbor Stores

The Harbor Store was opened in 1986 in the "L" shaped building on the Wharf. It has evolved into:

a restaurant catering to boaters and local residents alike,
a gift shop in the building that provides a wide variety of gifts, clothes, trinkets, souvenirs, and native art and where seasonal kayak rentals can be made.
a small coffee shop and local produce store in the building that sells basic supplies to boaters and hosts a local radio station, KWPA.

boating facility

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The boating facility has been set up so that a dozen or more power boats and sailboats can be moored to floats attached to the Wharf. There are also four buoys near the Wharf. Both unleaded gasoline and diesel fuel can be purchased at the fuel dock which is attached to the north side of the Wharf. This is the only public moorage in Penn Cove.

Whale watching

Whale watching trips on the Mystic Sea leave daily from the Wharf during whale migrations. For more information contact Mystic Sea Charters at 1 (800) 308-9387 or www.mysticseacharters.com