Visiting Historic Lopez Village
Steeped in history and culture, Lopez has a little bit of everything to offer a curious traveler
Lopez Village is located about 4 miles from the ferry landing, nestled along the entrance to Fisherman Bay. In the village, you’ll find restaurants, coffee shops, a bakery, art galleries, a bookstore, the Lopez Island Historical Museum, and more.
Stop at the Chamber of Commerce office to stock up on maps and find out information about local businesses and what to do while on Lopez Island.
A visit to the Lopez Historical Society & Museum provides an overview of the rich and varied past of Lopez Island. Here you can learn how Lopez Island’s relatively flat landscape, abundant fishing, mild weather and fertile land was a draw for coastal tribes for thousands of years, and how the first non-Native settler came to Lopez around 1850, and settled in what is now Lopez Village. In 1870, just 70 people lived on Lopez; by 1930, 134 farms were growing apples, cherries, apricots, plums and vegetables, as well as sheep and cattle. One hundred forty years later, a community of about 2,400 people call Lopez home.
The Lopez Island Historical Society & Museum maintains a huge photo and document archive, where you can search for long-lost relatives or vintage images of your island home. Along with permanent First Islanders and Natural History displays, you may see exhibits on farming, fishing, place name origins or island communities.
Find island-grown vegetables, fruit, and flowers, as well as island-produced food products such as jams, chutneys, pickles, fresh fudge, seafood, natural grass-fed meats, and more at the Lopez Farmers Market. The market runs seasonally on Saturdays (and July 4th!) from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. near the Lopez Center for Community & the Arts. The Lopez Market starts in mid-May and ends in mid-September.
You might be surprised by how vibrant the food scene is on Lopez Island. At Blue Heron Bistro you'll find comfort food like burgers and pastas, along with kids' plates, seasonal specials, and an incredible variety of desserts, all made from scratch. They source many of their ingredients from local farms and producers. At Ursa Minor, they offer creative agrarian Northwest cuisine that highlights seasonal ingredients. During the day, you can stop by their pantry to browse specialty goods or pick up a grab-and-go sandwich.
Lopez Center for Community and the Arts is a critical part of life on the island. Located on some 7 acres of land in the middle of Lopez Village, The Center has committed the use of some of the land to an outdoor performance pavilion, the Lopez Children’s Center, the Family Resource Center, the Farmers' Market, a community garden, and a skateboard park. It sits proudly in the middle of an expansive greensward with drought- and deer-resistant landscaping.
