Aberdeen has long been called the Gateway to the Olympic Peninsula,” because of its proximity to the southern end of the Olympic Peninsula and to Olympic National Park.  More recently Aberdeen became more famous as being the “Birthplace of Grunge,” and the hometown of Nirvana members Kurt Cobain and Krist Novoselic. 

But the group that started it all was the Melvins. 

That band and their guitarist, Buzz Osbourne, heavily influenced every Northwest-based band since 1985. Nirvana, Mudhoney, Alice In Chains, The Screaming Trees, Pearl Jam; all have readily credited Osborne and the Melvins with creating that genre that came to be tagged grunge.

Osborne’s detuned, creepy-crawly guitar playing has spawned thousands of imitators, some of whom have become rich and famous.

In fact, it was The Melvin’s Buzz Osborne who introduced Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl to a young Kurt Cobain. 

And the rest, as they say, is history.

Aberdeen, Washington, was incorporated as a city in 1888. Its primary industries were logging, fishing, shipbuilding, and retail services to support a growing population. Between 1903 and 1930, upper Broadway Hill was developed by the leaders of these very profitable industries. The architectural styles range from Greek Revival to Craftsman, all popular during this time period. Now Broadway Hill is the largest of three Aberdeen historic home districts: Broadway, Scammel, and Arnold Hill, neighborhoods which comprise, according to the Washington Department of Archeology and Historic Preservation, one of the largest intact historic homes inventory in the state. 

In the last 30 years, there has been an effort to preserve these prizes and sift through the historical significance of each building. Explore Grays Harbor’s history and take a driving or walking tour of Aberdeen’s historic homes. 

Courtesy of Our Aberdeen.

Built in 1928, Hoquiam’s 7th Street Theatre is one of the few remaining atmospheric-style theatres on the West Coast.  The theatre’s unique interior, adopted from the works of John Eberson, transforms the interior into a simulated open-air playhouse with a painted “sky” ceiling complete with clouds and twinkling stars. The 7th Street Theatre is a beautiful and unique venue. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.  In 2008 the 7th Street Theatre was the first building in the city of Hoquiam to be placed on the newly formed Hoquiam Register of Historic Places.

Today, the 7th Street Theatre is undergoing constant work under the guidance of the 7th Street Theatre Association, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that owns and operates the theatre. The venue hosts events all year long, and regularly features classic movies on certain weekends each year.

Photos by 7th Street Theatre Association

Surrounded by giant Sitka spruce trees, Douglas fir, and Western Red Cedar trees, situated next to one of the more pristine lakes and rivers in North America, the Lake Quinault Lodge sits quietly on the shores of Lake Quinault.

In 1926, this classic rustic lodge was built in the same style as the Old Faithful Inn at Yellowstone National Park and the Sun Valley Resort in Idaho, making it perfectly suited for the heavily forested locale. Set in one of three temperate rainforests in the world, the Lake Quinault Lodge has been the destination of tourists and residents alike.

The Lodge, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is a true getaway, with the majority of guest rooms lacking a phone, TV, or even a radio. For those who want to escape from the hectic city life, the Lake Quinault Lodge is the perfect gateway to the wilderness.

Courtesy of Grays Harbor Talk