History of Oysterville
In the mid 1800s, the village of Oysterville began to prosper after Chief Nahcati introduced the town’s founders, R.H. Espy and I.A. Clark, to oysters. The rich oyster beds of Willapa Bay were soon responsible for Oysterville’s growing riches, as the town became a major competitor with other oyster companies.
Once the county seat, with a college, two hotels and a weekly newspaper, the town began to decline when, in 1880, the long-awaited Clamshell Railroad ended at Nahcotta and native oysters began to become scarce. In 1893, the county seat was stolen by raiders in the middle of the night and taken to South Bend.
Today, the entire community is on the National Historic Register and the original one-room schoolhouse and church are still in use for community events. The church hosts summer vespers and the school is alive during the August Jazz & Oysters in Oysterville. The Oysterville Post Office is oldest continuously operating Post Office in Washington.
When strolling the streets of Oysterville, one truly feels as though time has stood still for more than one hundred years. Enjoy a walking tour of historic Oysterville, where you’ll learn more about the history of this fascinating town.
Visit Sydney of Oysterville to learn more about the town. The Oysterville Guest House is the only guest lodging in the town.
