Physician and best-selling author Abraham Verghese once said, "I’m a great believer in geography being destiny." Indeed, Washington, NC has proven that to be true. Rich with maritime history, this beautiful river town came about because of its location.

Local historian Ray Midgette, and other area history enthusiasts, saw the need to educate others and celebrate that history and started the Historic Port of Washington (HPOW) Project eight years ago. "Originally we were interested in having a history museum in town. That was really our motivation to start the project." Midgette is acting president for HPOW. The project had a storefront for a couple of years on south Market Street, then decided to go virtual. The HPOW Project now has an exhibit space inside the Harbor District Market, which has been extremely beneficial in sharing, learning, and interacting with the public.

"We’ve learned so much from being in this space from locals who come in. We also educate visitors that come in and are interested in history or just want to know more about Washington and it’s historical role as a major US port." Midgette says it’s also an opportunity to illustrate the bridge between past and present. "We really get to be an ambassador for the town [with this exhibit]."

The Historic Port of Washington Project strives to share the story of the Port of Washington and the Pamlico River as a center of commerce and transportation and promote Washington as a destination for heritage tourism, as well as help the city move forward through knowledge of its past. Washington served as a major supply port during wartime, and later, (because in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries the main mode of transportation in this area of the country was water), as a commercial and cultural center due to its navigable waterways.

Midgette emphasizes the significance of Washington as a historical port and why learning that history is crucial. "Culturally, I think it’s important [our maritime history]. Many people that grow up here don’t know the town’s history. I think learning that history is important for the town’s future."

The Historic Port of Washington Project is a 501c3 nonprofit organization and is always interested in volunteers who want to help with the project.

To learn more about the Historic Port of Washington or to find out how to become involved, go to https://www.facebook.com/historicportofwashington/ or https://hpow.org/.