For decades, the Bellingham Rock greeted drivers along Interstate 5 and served as a community canvas for messages, celebrations, and colorful artwork.
Although the iconic roadside landmark was removed earlier this year during a fish passage project, Washington residents will soon have the chance to take home a small piece of its history.
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) plans to distribute more than 1,000 pieces of the former landmark during a free public giveaway on Saturday, July 11, in Bellingham.
The roughly 100-ton glacial boulder stood alongside I-5 for more than 50 years before crews removed it as part of a project restoring salmon passage at Friday, Lake, and Chuckanut creeks.
Before the rock was broken apart, crews removed decades of paint and contaminated soil because some of the old paint contained lead and other hazardous materials.
The rock’s removal sparked disappointment among many residents who had hoped it could be preserved or relocated. Instead, WSDOT decided to make many of the remaining pieces available to the public.
How to get a piece of the Bellingham Rock
The giveaway is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 11, at the Civic Stadium parking lot, located at 1445 Puget Street in Bellingham.
Distribution will end earlier if all of the pieces are claimed.
Anyone interested must complete an online waiver by noon on Friday, July 10. Each person must submit their own waiver, even if arriving in the same vehicle.
Completing the waiver does not guarantee a rock will still be available, as pieces will be handed out on a first-come, first-served basis.
WSDOT says each person will be limited to one rock until 2 p.m. to give as many people as possible an opportunity to receive one.
Drivers should enter the parking lot from Orleans Street and exit onto Puget Street after receiving their rock piece.
The agency also notes that the rocks may still contain traces of hazardous materials from decades of paint. Anyone taking a piece home is encouraged to follow the handling guidance included with the required waiver.
Written by Ginnie Sandoval. Sandoval is a news and travel writer for Pacific Northwest Crossing. She covers travel tips, news, destinations, places to eat, and hidden gems across the Pacific Northwest. She can be reached at pnwcrossing@ramsanmedia.com.