Historical images from the Jefferson County Historical Society collection are in the third book released by Arcadia Publishing in its Images of America series.

"Olympic Mountains" was authored by Marsha Moratti, archivist for the historical society. The book contains more than 200 historical images and covers the Olympic Mountains and its watershed.

Moratti said, "We didn’t want to just do another book of pretty mountain pictures. We wanted to include the people who utilized the resources of the mountains and made the place their home."

Early photographers

The reader will find chapters on the Native Americans, early pioneers, logging, recreation and tourism. Moratti said she is grateful for the early photographers who documented life in the Olympics.

"Photographers Paul M. Richardson, George Welch, William H. Wilcox, James G. McCurdy, Sanford Lake and many others took wonderful photographs documenting the history of the Olympic Peninsula. Without their skill, enthusiasm and willingness to pack in cumbersome photography equipment, we would not have these images."

History text, too

Bill Tennent, historical society executive director, said, "This is more than a picture book. If you removed all of the photos, you still would have a wonderful history text."

"Olympic Mountains" joins the books "Jefferson County" and "Port Townsend" written by the historical society and published by Arcadia Publishing. All three books are widely available throughout the Olympic Peninsula as well as at the museum shop at the Jefferson County Museum in downtown Port Townsend.