The City of Shelton is located 8 miles from the south end of the Hood Canal, a 50 mile long salt water fjord off Admiralty Inlet about 15 miles south of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and yet it is on Hammersley inlet of Puget Sound.

At the time of first settlement in the 1850’s until around 1900 when the railroads came to Puget Sound the main way commerce traveled was on the water by boat.

One of the reasons there is not more development on Hood Canal is its isolation from the waters of Puget Sound where most of the commerce of the 1850’s to 1900’s was taking place..

To go from the south end of Hood Canal to Shelton over land is 8 miles, to go to Shelton by water you would have to go 50 miles north, then east about 5 miles, then south around the Kitsap Peninsula, about 80 miles, nearly to Olympia, then west up the Hammersley inlet to Shelton a total of over 150 miles.

At the closest point Hood Canal and the southern Puget Sound are only 2.25 miles apart. If that 2.25 miles were not high enough to be above water, the entire Kitsap Peninsula would be an island.

WA-HoodCanal02

A photo of Hood Canal is loading......

Hood Canal as seen from the picnic area in Twanoh State Park

Except for this narrow 2.25 mile spit of land, the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, and the Hood Canal floating bridge, the only way to get to the Kitsap Peninsula is by Washington State Ferry.

With all this you’d think Shelton’s claim to fame would be that it is the gateway to the Kitsap Peninsula but the bridges and ferries have that claim. Shelton’s claim to fame has been the lumber industry and that Shelton is the gateway to the Lower Hood Canal recreation area.

The first settlers came here in 1851 and seemed to open the flood gates. By the end of the 1850’s there were several lumber mills operating in the area. By 1864 the 10 year old Sahewamish County was renamed Mason County. Shelton was incorporated as a city in 1889.

Now the city is governed by three Commissioners. Shelton is one of only three municipal entities still governed by commissioners in the State of Washington. Today Shelton is a vibrant city experiencing fast growth. The city is committed to maintaining the Historic Downtown Shelton area with its turn of the century traditions.

Photo of Shay Logging Locomotive is loading......

This turn of the century Shay logging railroad locomotive is on display on Railroad Avenue honoring the towns lumber town history.

Photo of Hood Canal is loading......

Hood Canal

Shelton is a city in transition, preserving to old yet building new residential and commercial areas in the community. The population of Shelton is over 8,000 and it is 41 feet above sea level. Shelton is known for its Christmas Tree Farms and Oyster Farms.

Recommended Attractions

Museums
Shelton/Mason County Museum The museum is located in the historic old library building built in 1914 at Fifth Street and Railroad Avenue in downtown Shelton. Phone: 360-426-1020 Open Tuesday – Friday noon to 5pm Saturdays noon to 4pm	Home of Sacred Belongings: Squaxin Library and Museum 150 SE K’Wuh-Deegs-Altxw, Shelton, WA 98584 360-432-3851 http://www.squaxinislandmuseum.org/

Parks
Twanoh State Park Visit the Park's website. Located on WA-106 (8 mi. west of Belfare, WA) southwest of Bremerton on Hood Canal this park has 25 tent sites, 22 full hookup sites, six restrooms and one shower. It also has a swimming area, boat ramp and 100 foot long dock. Park is open year round and accepts no reservations.	Belfair State Park Bisit the Park's website Located on WA-300 approximately 3 miles west of Belfair on Hood Canal. Belfair is southwest of Bremerton, WA. This camping park is open year round and has 47 RV sites with utilities, 137 tent sites, two ADA sites, four restrooms, eight showers, and a dump station.
Potlatch State Park Visit the Park's website. Located on US-101about 12 miles north of Shelton and 3 miles south of Hoodsport on Hood Canal. The park has 19 tent sites, 18 RV sites with utilities, one restroom, two showers, and a dump station.	Triton Cove State Park Visit the Park's web site. Located on US-101 six miles south of Brinnon and 22 miles north of Hoodsport. Triton Cove is a day use park with a boat launch into Hood Canal. There are three picnic tables and a vault toilet.
Dosewallips State Park Visit the Park's website. Located on US-101 40 miles north of Shelton and 20 miles south of the junction of US-101 and WA-104 on Hood Canal. The park is open year round and has 40 RV sites with utilities, 100 tent sites, three restrooms, two showers, and one dump station.
Visitor Information
Shelton-Mason County Chamber of Commerce 221 W. Railroad Ave. #5 & 6 PO Box 2389 Shelton, Wa 98584 Phone: 360-426-2021 Toll Free: 1-800-576-2021 Visit their web site http://www.sheltonchamber.org/	North Mason Chamber 23910 State Route 3 PO Box 416 Belfair, WA 98528 Phone 360-275-4267 visit their web site.
In keeping with its logging heritage a historic Shay logging locomotive that operated in the woods in the Shelton area until the 1950’s is located at 3^rd and Railroad Avenue. The caboose is the Visitor’s Center 221 W Railroad Ave. Shelton, WA 98584 360-426-2021 / 1-800-576-2021) Visit the Chamber’s web page http://www.discoverhoodcanal.com/visitors.xml

Listed Attractions in the Hood Canal area of Washington State

We have not necessarily visited or recommend listed businesses.

Antiques

Art Galleries

Art Talks – 360-432-1101 - http://www.arttalks.net/

122 S 3^rd St, Shelton, WA 98584

Frantz Art Glass Gallery – 360-426-2643 - http://www.frantzartglass.com/

130 W Corporate Rd, Shelton, WA 98584

Harstine Island Gallery – 360-426-8840 - http://harstinegallery.com/default.aspx

970 E Maples Rd, Whelton, WA 98584

Gift Shops/ Specialty Shops

Cove Crystal Shop – 360-426-8111 - http://www.covecrystals.com/

510 SE Old Arcadia Rd, Shelton, WA 98584

Enchanted Garden – 360-432-1181

422 N 3^rd St, Shelton, WA 98584

Golden Smoke Gift Shop – 360-426-2425

301 E Wallace Kneeland Blvd, Shelton, WA 98584

Heavenly Gifts at St Davids – 360-462-4438

324 W Cedar St, Shelton, WA 98584

Golf

Lake Limerick Country Club – 360-426-6290 - http://www.lakelimerick.com/

790 E Saint Andrews DR, Shelton, WA 98584

Shelton Bayshore Golf Club – 360-426-1271

3800 E SR 3, Shelton, WA 98584

Parks & Amusement Centers

Museums

See recommended attractions above

Parks/Gardens

Belfair State Park – see Recommended State Parks above

Twanoh State Park – see Recommended State Parks above

Potlatch State Park – see Recommended State Parks above

Triton State Park – see Recommended State Parks above

Dosewallips State Park – see Recommended State Parks above

Quilting/Needlecrafts

Sues Stitch In Time – 360-427-6164

927 W Railroad Ave, Shelton, WA 98584

Scrapbooking/Crafts

A Glass Bash – 360-432-9127 -http://www.aglassbash.com/

718 Euclid Ave, Shelton WA 98584

Old Rown Hobby – 360-432-1026

221 W Railroad Ave, Shelton, WA 98584

Theatres

Shelton Cinemas – 360-426-1000 - http://www.sheltoncinemas.com/

517 W Franklin St, Shelton, WA 98584

Skyline Drive-In Theatre – 360-426-4707 - http://www.skylinedrive-in.com/

182 SE Brewer Rd. Shelton, WA 98594

Tours / Charters / Attractions

Wine

Walter Daacon Wines – 360-426-5913 - http://www.walterdaconwines.com/

50 SE Skookum Inlet Road, Shelton, WA 98584

Walter

Top of Page

Shelton100.htm