Grays Harbor Historical Seaport Authority (GHHSA)

Tall ship firsthand history education: each year over 3,000 school children come aboard for our education programs. Our primary service group is 4th and 5th grade students, but we serve all ages. The students sail the tall ship themselves with direction from the crew, and break into small groups to learn about life aboard in the golden age of sail. The learning stations include historic replica objects for firsthand learning. Our instructors discuss early navigation, food aboard, trade routes during the pacific fur trade, and how shipping has evolved. This firsthand approach to history teaches critical thinking and encourages teamwork. All of our students are west coast residents, which means the history they are learning is directly relevant to their region. It is a one-of-a-kind experience they receive.vocational training: the Seaport offers a program called the seafarer collective, which is a workforce development program dedicated to diversifying the commercial maritime industry and putting people into living wage jobs. This coast guard ceritified program has put over 100 people into the commercial sector. This industry is facing a well-documented labor shortage, in large part due to lack of visibility and the expense of formal schooling through maritime academies. Our two-week program is all inclusive and costs just $799. Scholarships are available to those who qualify. After they earn their able-bodied seaman, they can move up within the industry. This program was temporarily suspended due to covid-19, but we are looking forward to relaunching the program in 2023. Public sailing: tall ship lady Washington, the official ship of the state of Washington, visits around 20 communities along the west coast each year. This includes both metropolitan and rural communities, so we can serve as many as possible. The floating musuem hosts over 70,000 visitors annually through sailing and walk on tours. In this capacity not only is lady Washington preserving history, but she is also benefitting the communities she visits through tourism and serves as a mobile ambassador for her homeport of aberdeen, wa and for the state. She inspires people to learn about american maritime history and become stewards of the ocean environment. Her mottos are sail, learn, discover, and for the love of the sea.the Seaport averages 15-20 volunteers annually who contribute thousands of hours of community service. Together it is many hands preserving history.