Northwest Seaport Maritime Heritage Center

Who Northwest Seaport Serves

• General Public / Local Community – providing opportunities for residents of Puget Sound and the broader Northwest to engage with their maritime heritage.
• Students & Educators – offering maritime-based educational programs that connect history, culture, and hands-on learning.
• Historians, Preservationists, & Enthusiasts – serving those passionate about maritime history, ship restoration, and cultural heritage.
• Visitors & Tourists – creating access to historic vessels and interpretation programs that attract people from outside the region.

Cause

• Preservation of Maritime Heritage – protecting historic vessels and artifacts that represent the working maritime history of Puget Sound and the Northwest coast.
• Education & Interpretation – developing programs that teach about maritime traditions, navigation, and the role of ships and seafaring in the region’s identity.
• Cultural Connection – ensuring that maritime history remains a living, accessible resource for present and future generations.

Community

• Geographic Focus: Puget Sound and the Northwest coast, with a strong emphasis on Seattle’s maritime identity.
• Cultural Focus: A community connected by the shared maritime economy, history, and traditions of the Northwest.
• Engagement Focus: Broad, inclusive access for people of all ages—families, schools, volunteers, and maritime professionals.

Northwest Seaport serves the broader Puget Sound community—students, educators, history enthusiasts, and the public—by preserving historic vessels and maritime traditions. Its cause is the preservation and interpretation of maritime heritage, and its community is everyone connected to or curious about the maritime culture and history of the Northwest coast.