ADDRESS
P.O. Box 577
Coupeville, WA 98239
HOURS
Open Year Round
24 Hours a Day
CONTACT
(360) 678-5020
Port of Coupeville
AMENITIES
Lodging, Picnic Facilities, Restrooms, Wheelchair Accessible
Founded in 1888 by Captain Thomas Coupe, Coupeville is the second oldest city in Washington State. With its picturesque boardwalk, shops, and Victorian homes, the town is a favorite getaway.
The Whale Trail site in Coupeville is at the Coupeville Wharf.
WHERE THE WHALES ARE
Seals and sea lions can be commonly seen from the Wharf. Gray whales are also occasionally seen. Orca sightings from Coupeville are relatively rare. However, Coupeville played an important role in our history with orcas. During the 1970s, Coupeville and nearby Penn Cove served as the center for two major capture operations. Lolita, the sole surviving southern resident orca in captivity, was one of seven whales captured at Penn Cove in 1972. She is currently kept at the Miami Seaquarium. Today the Coupeville Wharf is home to a marine mammals exhibit co-sponsored by the Port of Coupeville and the WSU Extension Beach Watcher’s program. The exhibit features interpretive displays, and skeletons of a juvenile gray whale and a Dall’s porpoise.
WHICH ANIMALS YOU CAN EXPECT TO SEE
PROGRAMS AND EVENTS
Each Spring, the town of Coupeville hosts the Penn Cove Water Festival, featuring booths, environmental displays, and canoe races.