The northern edge of the Olympic Peninsula has a rich history. Since the last thick sheet of glacial ice pulled back from the land, people have survived and ultimately thrived on this strip of land between the mountains and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The byway spans the ancient traditional land and current homes of the Klallam and Makah peoples, and connects Puget Sound to the Pacific Ocean.
Its name comes from the navigator who is believed to be part of the first European expedition to sail from the Pacific Ocean in 1592. In 1846, England and the United States signed a treaty locking the northern boundary at 49 degrees latitude. This treaty still divides the Canadian/U.S. border east to west down the center of the narrow strait. Small communities began to develop west of Port Angeles; Port Crescent, Gettysburg, Twin, Pysht and Clallam Bay.
Early fishing tourism began with a wagon road built to connect Port Crescent to Lake Crescent “resorts.” In 1911, Joe Joyce built a home, shingle mill and general store, which bears his name and is still in operation. Milwaukee Railroad laid tracks, beginning in 1914, which ran out of Port Angeles parallel to the strait primarily to haul timber. The tracks were removed in 1952 after roads are built. It became a state scenic highway in 1967 and a national scenic byway in 2000. Two stretches of the Strait of Juan de Fuca Highway have been designated as Veteran Memorial Highways. Directly after exiting US-101 west of Port Angeles, SR-112 has been designated the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Highway. It meets the Korean Veterans’ Blue Star Memorial Highway when it intersects with SR-113 just southeast of Clallam Bay.