Winthrop, WA

The recorded history of this area begins when Native Americans 

 lived along the banks of the Methow, Twisp and Chewuch rivers, 

digging camas root, picking berries, fishing and hunting. 

The first white men to visit the valley were

 trappers in the 1800's.

  In 1883  the lure of gold brought the first permanent white settlers to this beuitful valley.
The town is named after Theodore Winthrop, a Yale graduate,
 adventurer/traveler and gifted 19th century author. 
The town was rebuilt after a devastating fire in 1893. 
Waring's (one of the first settlers) original Duck Brand Saloon 
(considered the best run saloon in the country by numerous church publications) 
was built in 1891.
It survived the fire and is now Winthrop's Town Hall. 

Many of the sidewalks are covered.  
Less snow to shovel in the winter :)

The next few photos are the inside of a shop
 that I thought you might enjoy.

 

The shop is a combination of animal heads,
 cowboy decor, fashion, candles, jams and chandeliers. 

I thought that these were so pretty.

Here are more photos that I took walking around town.

The Blues Ranch is the perfect setting for one of Washington's greatest blues festivals. The Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival is the largest and longest running festival in the state of Washington. Over seventy-five thousand people have attended this event in the past twenty-six years.

Next year's festival is scheduled for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, July 18, 19, 20, 2014.  - See more at: http://www.winthropwashington.com/event/26th-annual-winthrop-rb-festival#sthash.54jbIzQN.dpuf

 Every July, Winthrop hosts the largest and longest running 
Rhythm and Blues Festival in the state.
They have a wonderful Rodeo each year, 
a huge antique car show 
and 
their Winter Festival is a step back in time.
With town hall parties, hot air balloon rides, hay rides, snowmobile races, 
caroling, free cookies and coco all over town and fireworks :)

the largest and longest running

The Blues Ranch is the perfect setting for one of Washington's greatest blues festivals. The Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival is the largest and longest running festival in the state of Washington. Over seventy-five thousand people have attended this event in the past twenty-six years.

Next year's festival is scheduled for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, July 18, 19, 20, 2014.  - See more at: http://www.winthropwashington.com/event/26th-annual-winthrop-rb-festival#sthash.54jbIzQN.dpuf

Old fortune telling machines, 

Wooden Indians,

Wooden Cowboys, 
(I've always been fascinated by chainsaw art)

and Wooden Miners.

 

I had to laugh when I saw this sign on the side of a building.
I've actually used Horse Liniment on things like twisted and swollen ankles . . .
it worked very well :)

 

Here you can get a good look at the street lights,
and of the wooden sidewalks that run throughout the town. 

This building looked empty.
Anyone want to open a unique shop?
Look at all the detail and workmanship.
Love it!

Here's a little covered walking bridge,
right in the middle of town. 

Here we are heading home.
Our first camping trip under our belt,
and planning the next :)

The Winthrop area is beuitful, and the people are friendly.
It has many lakes, rivers and campgrounds.
A great place to plan a vacation. 
We will be back :)


Happy Trails,
Your blogging sister,