Volunteers Needed!

Be part of the celebration that lights up Liberty Bay!

We’re looking for energetic, friendly volunteers to help make this year’s Liberty Bay Festival unforgettable!

Honoring Our Maritime Past

The Poulsbo Historical Society, Maritime Museum, and the Port of Poulsbo invite you to join us for a weekend of Local history and maritime heritage with storied vessels and tales of people who lived on and along the Bay.

Invited Vessels…

The Virginia V; a national historic landmark and one of the few remaining original “Mosquito Fleet” vessels
Original Poulsbo Boats constructed on Front Street by Ronald Young
Historic Fishing Vessels

The Valkyrie; a replica of the ‘ Skuldelev 6’ Viking ship from Norway
Working Tugs
Fire Boats
US Military Vessels
…and more

Mosquto Fleet Vessel The Virginia V

Learn about the Mosquito Fleet of steamers that piled Liberty Bay and Puget Sound from the late 1880’s to the 1950’s. Walk the decks of the Virginia V, a National Historic Vessel and hear about the fleet of over 700 steamers that served the area. See the shining bright steam engine, and feel the wind in your hair as you listen to a local expert talk about the original ports of call all around Liberty Bay.

Come join us for a sunset cruise at sea on the Virginia V, Saturday, May 30th.

Benefiting the Poulsbo Historical Society

Virginia V Foundation

Valkyrie

Visit the Valkyrie, a true replica based on the ancient recovered ship ‘Skuldelev 6’, a Norwegian-built Viking ship unearthed after one thousand years from the waters at Roskilde, Denmark.

This 56′ beauty was hand-made by brothers here in Washington as a tribute to their father. With touches of Northwest Native tradidtions done by local indigenous carvers, the Valkyrie is one of a kind – and now homeported here in Poulsbo. Ride along, and maybe even pick up an oar!

Vaklyrie

MV Lotus Foundation

Step aboard the 1909 MV Lotus, a beautifully preserved cruising houseboat dedicated to maritime history and community connection. The Foundation keeps this Puget Sound treasure thriving through tours, education, and hands‑on preservation.

High Tea & Reservations

Guests can reserve guided tours or enjoy the Lotus’s signature High Tea—an intimate service featuring curated teas and handmade treats served in the ship’s elegant Edwardian salon. Seating is limited, so reservations are encouraged.

MV Lotus Foundation

Poulsbo Boats

Built right downtown in a basement on Front Street, these boats were designed especially for the waters of Puget Sound. Learn about how they were constructed by Ronald Young, and hear from his grandson and great-granddaughter about building one in their own backyard. See several original Poulsbo Boats and meet their owners.

The Air Snipe – A Living WWII Legacy

Built in 1943, the Air Snipe is one of the last surviving SC‑497 class submarine chasers, a rare remnant of a 438‑vessel WWII fleet. Commissioned as SC‑1068, she served in the South Pacific on anti‑submarine patrols, convoy escorts, and landing support before becoming a U.S. Coast Guard Air Sea Rescue Cutter.

Sold into civilian service, she later helped pioneer barge transport between Seattle and Southeast Alaska. For more than 50 years, she was lovingly maintained by Kent Halvorsen and became a familiar sight in Ketchikan.

After Kent’s passing in 2023, maritime preservationists Matt Levy and Kelly Thynes brought her to Seattle to ensure her continued care. Now operated by a nonprofit, the Air Snipe is being preserved and opened to the public—honoring her service, her caretakers, and the maritime heritage she represents.

1943 Air Snipe