Founded in 1852 by sea captain Thomas Coupe on the shores of Penn Cove, Coupeville is Washington's second-oldest town, and heading into 2026 it's showing up on travel lists from Fodor's Go List to Livability's Top 100 Best Small Towns. The draw: an 8,000-acre National Historic Reserve, four blockhouses still standing since the 1850s, and a 62-year-old arts festival that fills Front Street with 200 vendors every August.

Discover Coupeville with HomeExchange
💡
- Founded in 1852 by sea captain Thomas Coupe; incorporated in 1910 as Washington's second-oldest town
- Sits inside the 8,000-acre Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve, the first of its kind in the US
- Hosts its 62nd annual Arts & Crafts Festival August 8-9, 2026, with over 200 artists and vendors
- About 30 miles north of Seattle on Whidbey Island, reachable by ferry across Puget Sound

A Waterfront Town Built by a Sea Captain

Coupeville traces its start to 1852, when sea captain Thomas Coupe settled on Penn Cove, one of Puget Sound's deepest natural harbors. Incorporation didn't come until April 13, 1910, after the 1901 arrival of Fort Casey's garrison, more than 300 men, pushed the settlement toward official town status. Today it holds the title of Washington's second-oldest town and serves as the seat of Island County.

Living Inside a National Historic Reserve

Much of Coupeville sits within the Central Whidbey Island Historic District, roughly 8,000 acres placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. Five years later, in 1978, that same ground became Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve, the first national historical reserve created in the United States. Four wooden blockhouses, built between 1855 and 1857 for defense, still stand today, and the 1903 Admiralty Head Lighthouse still overlooks Fort Casey at the island's western edge.

Front Street's Moment in the Spotlight

Front Street's row of 19th-century storefronts, now filled with restaurants and galleries overlooking Penn Cove, already had one brush with fame as a filming location for the 1998 movie Practical Magic. In 2026, it's picking up new attention: outlets from Fodor's Go List to Livability's Top 100 Best Small Towns and multiple best-small-towns-in-Washington roundups are naming Coupeville among the state's rising historic destinations.

The Arts & Crafts Festival That Anchors the Summer

Coupeville's cultural calendar centers on the Coupeville Arts & Crafts Festival, running since 1964. The 2026 edition, its 62nd, takes place August 8 and 9, with more than 200 artists and vendors setting up along the waterfront to sell jewelry, pottery, woodwork, and food. Saturday hours run 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with proceeds supporting local scholarships and community grants.

Whidbey Island Beyond Coupeville

Coupeville sits about 30 miles north of Seattle on Whidbey Island, the largest island in Washington state at roughly 37 miles long. Visitors reach it via the Clinton-Mukilteo ferry to the south, the Coupeville-Port Townsend run to the north, or by car across the Deception Pass Bridge. Penn Cove mussels, farmed just offshore, remain the area's best-known culinary export.

Experience the Authenticity of Coupeville with HomeExchange

With HomeExchange, you can live that rhythm like a local. Choose from a traditional house, a beachfront villa, or an urban apartment in the heart of a city. Each home offers a unique perspective.

HomeExchange lets you experience true belonging while saving on accommodation costs. Immerse yourself in the local community and enjoy the comforts of a home away from home.

Discover how HomeExchange works