Shipwreck drawings on display through April

OLYMPIA–The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission invites the public to attend a special exhibit about shipwrecks off the Washington coast at the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center in Ilwaco.

The “Shipwrecks of Washington’s Coast” exhibit runs through April 30 in the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center at Cape Disappointment State Park, 244 Robert Gray Drive, Ilwaco. The exhibit features drawings of shipwrecks that lie between the Columbia River bar north to Cape Flattery off the Pacific coast of Washington. Admission to the center is $5 per adult and $2.50 per child ages 7 to 17. Children 6 years and younger enter for free.

Featured in the exhibit are 36 sketches by artist Richard Wells, illustrator for “A Guide to Shipwreck Sites Along the Washington Coast” published in 1989. Wells’ works are finely detailed pen and ink drawings of ships at their wreck sites. His drawings display scenes ranging from 1775 to 1965, including two historic wrecks from 1896 and 1936 of the Potrimpos and the Iowa. The Potrimpos wrecked in 1896 after drifting into the Long Beach Peninsula while waiting for a cargo pickup and the Iowa was stranded on a sandbar at the mouth of the Columbia River in January 1936. Wells’ original illustrations were donated to State Parks after they were published in 1989.

The “Shipwrecks of Washington’s Coast” exhibit was unveiled during the Graveyard of the Pacific event at the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center in October 2011. April 2012 is the final month to view the temporary exhibit.

Cape Disappointment State Park is a 1,882-acre camping park on the Long Beach Peninsula, fronted by the Pacific Ocean and lying along the Columbia River. The park offers two miles of ocean beach, two lighthouses, hiking trails and the interpretive center. As part of a larger art installation, the park also features the Confluence Project amphitheater, designed by world-renowned architect and artist, Maya Lin.

The Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center sits atop a bluff 200 feet above the Pacific Ocean. The center is open year round. A series of mural-sized "timeline" panels at the center guides visitors through the westward journey of the Lewis and Clark Expedition using sketches, paintings, photographs and the words of Corps members themselves. The center also features a short film presentation, a gift shop and a glassed-in observation deck with fabulous views of the river, headlands and sea. Additional displays focus on local maritime and military history.

Stay connected to your state parks by following Washington State Parks at www.facebook.com/WashingtonStateParks, www.twitter.com/WaStatePks_NEWS and www.youtube.com/WashingtonStateParks.

The Commission manages a diverse system of more than 100 state parks and recreation programs, including long-distance trails, boating safety and winter recreation. The 98-year-old park system will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2013.

Support state parks by purchasing your Discover Pass today, and enjoy a whole year of outdoor fun on Washington’s beautiful state-managed recreation lands. For more information, visit www.discoverpass.wa.gov.