Rural Washington's 'City Of The World' Is Small‑town Americana With Historic Buildings, Parks, And Trails

Cosmopolis, Washington, sounds like the nickname for a town where the world comes together. Taking the Ancient Greek words kosmos, meaning "world," and polis, meaning "city," you may think it's a nickname for Beacon Hill, the scenic Seattle neighborhood where 60% of residents speak a language other than English at home. In reality, Cosmopolis is a small city on the Olympic Peninsula with a unique past.  "Cosi," as it is locally known, was founded by European settlers in 1852, before Washington was a territory. According to one of the first settlers in the area, the city was aptly named by a French traveler to be the "City of the World."  

Despite its lofty name, Cosmopolis very much remains a typical American small town, built on hard work and big dreams. Cosi got off to a slow start; early businesses failed before Jason and John Fry established the first of many timber mills in 1881, which powered the local economy for over a century. Timber cut in Cosmopolis supplied the port of Grays Harbor, which became the world's busiest timber port, shipping billions of feet of lumber by the 1920s, and attracted a diverse mix of loggers over the next decades. Cosi's economy has been through its ups and downs, as mills have repeatedly reopened and closed, but the city has never been bigger and offers plenty of outdoor activities for a day of enjoying the beautiful scenery of Grays Harbor. Cosmopolis is tucked along the southern banks of the Chehalis River, a short drive from Aberdeen, the Washington city with a gritty, colorful history and the majestic Olympic National Forest. From Seattle, it's about 2 hours, depending on traffic. 

Driving into Cosi on Highway 101, you'll find a quintessential American town with well-maintained streets that are lined with small businesses, churches, and well-manicured homes in a neat grid off of the main streets. For much of its early history, though, Cosmopolis was known as "the Western Penitentiary," and during the early 20th century, a revolving door of loggers supported the mill for tiny wages under brutal working conditions. Some of their finest work is on display at the Cooney Mansion, owned by the baron who ran Cosi, Neil Cooney. The gorgeous home, built in 1908, still stands as a hallmark of the city's early days and has been registered as a National Historic Site. The mansion is one of several historic buildings still standing today, as even quaint dwellings from the 19th century are scattered through Cosi. 

Like in North Dakota's "little slice of Americana", Cosi is full of local treasures that provide excellent value for money. For a small city of just over 1,600, you're spoiled for choice. Two standouts offer good, old-fashioned American food. Clarks Restaurant, an award-winning local diner, has been serving classic comfort food including all-day breakfast as well as the region's best burgers, hand-cut fries, and tasty frozen treats for over two decades. Clarks has earned over 1,000 reviews on Google Maps and has a 4.5-star rating. Just a few minutes away in downtown Aberdeen, chow down on a half-pound "brick burger," dressed up and piled high at Billy's Bar and Grill. In charming downtown, get your coffee fix and tempt your sweet tooth with a unique blackberry curd or pastry at The Brass Hub Coffee Bar before picking up a glass souvenir at Opal Art Glass Glassblowing Studio, the city's top attraction on TripAdvisor. 

The Olympic Peninsula is one of the few places in the world where you can be on the Pacific Ocean and an hour later trek through a rainforest. While not as jaw-dropping as Olympic National Park, Cosi's own Makarenko Park Loop is a great warmup trail through a similar natural scene, just a few blocks from downtown. Makarenko Park was named for Diomed Sergeivich Makarenko, a former Russian Cavalry officer who fled Communism and taught courses in the nearby Spanish Riding School. The park is a perfect place to spend an afternoon throwing a frisbee or to unwind in the peaceful atmosphere. Cosmopolis' other major park, Mill Creek Park, hosts the annual "Festival in the Park" each September and is a popular place to go fishing and birdwatching. Outside of July and August, expect the weather to be soggy.

While you could drive the short distance between Cosmopolis and Aberdeen, don't miss the beautiful views along the dog-friendly "Cosi Trail" connecting Lions Park and Pioneer Park. The paved trail navigates along a repurposed railroad line. You'll still have to navigate a few more miles into downtown Aberdeen, where you'll also find most of the accommodation options in the area. Whether you're heading back to Seattle or south toward Oregon after a trip to Cosmopolis, don't miss taking the Olympic Peninsula's only major route, which offers incredible stops along the way.