8 Forgotten Military Sites In Washington State

Washington State holds a treasure trove of military history that many people don’t know about. From coastal defenses built to protect Puget Sound to secret facilities that helped win World War II, these sites tell fascinating stories of our past.

Let’s explore eight forgotten military locations that played important roles in American history but now sit quietly across the Evergreen State.

1. Fort Casey’s Silent Sentinels

Standing guard on Whidbey Island since the 1890s, Fort Casey once housed massive 10-inch disappearing guns that could surprise enemy ships. These engineering marvels would pop up, fire, then hide again behind concrete walls.

Part of the “Triangle of Fire” defense system protecting Puget Sound, the fort became outdated by the 1920s as aircraft technology changed warfare forever. Today, visitors can explore the abandoned batteries and imagine soldiers scanning the horizon for threats.

2. Marrowstone Island’s Hidden Fortress

Fort Flagler sits quietly on Marrowstone Island, its concrete bunkers now silent witnesses to a bygone military era. Built in 1897, it formed a critical piece of Puget Sound’s “Triangle of Fire” defense system alongside Forts Casey and Worden.

The military abandoned the site decades ago, but nature hasn’t fully reclaimed it. Weathered gun emplacements and mysterious underground passages invite exploration throughout the state park. Rangers offer tours revealing the fort’s secrets and strategic importance.

3. Port Townsend’s Military Ghost Town

Fort Worden’s imposing presence in Port Townsend tells tales of early 1900s military might. Once bustling with soldiers preparing for wars that never reached its shores, the fort protected the entrance to Puget Sound until 1953.

Walking through the grounds feels like stepping back in time. Officers’ homes line neatly arranged streets while massive concrete batteries loom on the bluff above. The fort gained unexpected fame as the filming location for “An Officer and A Gentleman,” adding Hollywood history to its military legacy.

4. Whidbey’s WWII Watchpost

Hurriedly constructed as Japanese threats loomed during World War II, Fort Ebey’s concrete bunkers still peer out over the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Unlike its older neighbors, this fort never housed disappearing guns but instead featured modern anti-aircraft batteries.

Time and salt air have weathered the structures, creating an eerie atmosphere as fog rolls through abandoned gun positions. Hikers often stumble upon these remnants while exploring Fort Ebey State Park, surprised to find military history amid the natural beauty.

5. Seattle’s Vanishing Army Post

Before becoming Seattle’s largest public park, Fort Lawton housed thousands of soldiers preparing for overseas combat. Established in 1900, the fort saw service during multiple conflicts and once imprisoned Italian and German POWs during World War II.

Most military buildings have vanished, replaced by meadows and forest. A few historic structures remain, including the elegant officers’ homes along the bluff. The land’s transformation from military base to urban wilderness represents one of the nation’s most remarkable military-to-civilian conversions.

6. The Secret Nuclear Heart Of Eastern Washington

Few realize that a dusty facility in Eastern Washington helped end World War II. The Hanford B Reactor produced the plutonium for the bomb dropped on Nagasaki in 1945, forever changing global politics.

Workers at this massive complex had no idea what they were creating. Many lived in hastily built secret cities that appeared and disappeared within a few years. Today, guided tours take visitors through the reactor’s control room and massive face, offering glimpses into the dawn of the atomic age.

7. Tacoma’s Forgotten Frontier Outpost

Long before modern military bases dotted Washington, Fort Nisqually stood as a lonely outpost where cultures collided. Originally built as a Hudson’s Bay Company trading post in 1833, it later served military purposes during territorial disputes.

The original site has largely vanished beneath Tacoma’s development. A reconstructed version exists as a living history museum, but few visitors realize they’re experiencing a reimagined version miles from the actual location. Artifacts from the original fort offer tangible connections to this frontier military chapter.

8. Mountain Passage Of Military Might

Carved through the Cascade Mountains in 1893, the Great Northern Railway route now known as Iron Goat Trail once transported troops and supplies during multiple wars. The engineering marvel required massive snow sheds and tunnels to maintain this crucial military supply line.

Tragedy struck in 1910 when an avalanche killed 96 people along the route. The military eventually abandoned the passage for safer alternatives. Today, hikers follow the gentle grade past crumbling infrastructure while interpretive signs explain how this mountain passage once connected Washington’s military to the world.