Sehome Historic Walking Tour

Get Your Pass. Explore Whatcom County. Win Prizes!

Step back in time on your next visit to Bellingham, WA! These self guided walking tours are FREE, easy to use, available on your mobile device, and offers a great opportunity to see how Bellingham has evolved while providing prizes along the way.

This 1.5 mile tour takes you through the south end of downtown, originally settled in 1853 as the coal mining town of Sehome, one of four early towns that became the City of Bellingham in 1904. The name “Sehome” came from the mine superintendent’s Clallam Indian father-in-law, “S’<yah-whom.” The entrance to the mine was near today’s intersection of Laurel Street and Railroad Avenue.

*** Please check individual businesses for information on hours and closures. ***

Additional Walking Tour Tips

These walking tours travel through a variety of public spaces, following sidewalks and alleyways and occasionally over uneven ground. Things to consider when walking:

Wear comfortable shoes and watch where you step.
Always use crosswalks and be alert when crossing streets.
Take breaks as needed. Visit one of the many cafes and retail shops along the tour, stop by the library or have a picnic at a park.

Where To Get Printed Tour Booklets

Full printed booklets for all three walking tours are available for purchase at Village Books and the Whatcom Museum for a small fee. All proceeds go to support the Whatcom Museum Foundation. Photos and information about the history of Fairhaven and Bellingham were provided by Jeff Jewell, Whatcom Museum Photo Archives Historian.

Interactive maps and digital versions of the booklets are provided here by the City of Bellingham.

Find More Quests

The Fairhaven Historic Walking Tour has been made possible by the City of Bellingham, Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism, the Fairhaven Association, and with Federal funds from the National Park Service Department of the Interior, administered by the Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP).