History Sunset Cruises Are About to Set Sail this Summer

The Whatcom Museum is excited to partner again with San Juan Cruises to host its annual History Sunset Cruise this summer with local legend and historian Brian Griffin. The weekly cruises will take place each Tuesday, July 9 – September 10, from 6 – 8 pm. Tickets are on sale now and begin at $40, with children 5 and younger sailing for free.

The Museum’s popular summer cruises, which often sell out, take locals and visitors aboard the 100-foot Victoria Star tour boat. Participants get close-up views of the parks, landmarks, historic buildings, and neighborhoods that dot Bellingham Bay, along with views of water birds and the occasional harbor seal. Griffin narrates the sights and shares local lore and trivia along the way.

The Victoria Star leaves from the Bellingham Cruise and Ferry Terminal in Fairhaven, boarding at 5:45 pm. It has indoor and outdoor seating on two levels, restrooms, an on-board snack bar, and a full bar with a selection of Northwest beers, wines, and cocktails for purchase. Guests are welcome to bring their own dinner, snacks, and non-alcoholic beverages onboard as well.

Tickets are $40 for Museum members and $50 for the public and – for the first time – include no additional ticketing or event surcharges. Tickets can be purchased online at the Whatcom Museum website or in-person at the Museum Store (150 Flora St.) during regular museum admission hours. Day-of tickets must be purchased at least six hours before the cruise’s departure time, with potential walk-on tickets available at the dock. Tickets are rain or shine, non-refundable, and non-transferrable. Proceeds from History Sunset Cruises support the Whatcom Museum’s exhibitions and educational programs. Visit the website for more information and FAQs.

Cruise Schedule

Dates: Tuesdays, July 9 – September 10
Time: 6:00 – 8:00 PM (Boarding begins at 5:45 PM)
Departure Location: Bellingham Cruise and Ferry Terminal

Tickets and Pricing

Whatcom Museum Members: $40
Public: $50
Children 5 and under: Free with pre-registration

Proceeds from the History Sunset Cruises support Whatcom Museum exhibitions and educational programs.

About the Whatcom Museum

The Whatcom Museum in Bellingham, WA, is an American Alliance of Museums-accredited museum and a Smithsonian Affiliate. Notable projects have included the 2019 retrospective exhibition WANTED: Ed Bereal for Disturbing the Peace, featured in The New York Times, the touring exhibition Katazome Today: Migrations of a Japanese Art, and the co-curated, exhibition Many Wests: Artists Shape an American Idea, which traveled to the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C.

The Whatcom Museum spans three buildings in downtown Bellingham: the Lightcatcher, Old City Hall, and Old Fire Station No. 1. For more information about our exhibitions and admission visit whatcommuseum.org.

We acknowledge that Whatcom County is located on the unceded territory of the Coast Salish Peoples. They cared for the lands that included what we’d call the Puget Sound region, Vancouver Island and British Columbia since time immemorial. This gives us the great obligation and opportunity to learn how to care for our surrounding areas and all the natural and human resources we require to live. We express our deepest respect and gratitude for our indigenous neighbors, the Lummi Nation and Nooksack Tribe, for their enduring care and protection of our shared lands and waterways.