United States historic place
Photo: Krystal Hamlin from Oak Harbor, WA, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The past meets the present at Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve on Whidbey Island, in the Puget Sound of Washington State. Created in 1978 as the nation's first Historical Reserve, the integrate working farms and historic land use traditions, one of the oldest towns in Washington, a focal point of the Pacific Northwest's military history and large tracts of ecologically intact habitats.
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In 1858 the United States purchased acres costing $400 for the location of the lighthouse on Admiralty Inlet. The original Red Bluff lighthouse was completed in the months prior to the Civil War and was among the West's earliest navigational aids. It had a fourth order Fresnel lens, and the light could be seen 16 miles away. In 1890, the original wooden lighthouse was relinquished to the U.S. Army, who demolished it to make room for soldiers and guns in Fort Casey. Its 30 ft replacement, constructed of brick and stucco, was built in 1903. It was the last brick lighthouse designed by renowned German architect Carl Leick. This lighthouse proved to be too far up the bluff to be useful for navigation. It was deactivated in 1922, and its lantern moved to the New Dungeness Lighthouse. Later, the Army used the lighthouse as a training facility for the K-9 dog program. The lighthouse has since been restored by Washington State Parks.
The two 10-inch guns on disappearing carriages that are mounted at Fort Casey were transferred from the Philippines in the 1960s, along with two three-inch guns. The 10-inch guns are M1895MI (No. 26 and No. 28 Watervliet) on disappearing carriages M1901 (No. 13 and No. 15 Watertown). The three-inch guns are M1903 (No. 11 and No. 12) on barbette carriages M1903 (No. 6 and No. 7).
A stretch of land more than two miles wide that separates Admiralty Inlet and Crocket Lake.
A small day use park with beach access, trailhead access and dramatic views of the Olympic Mountains and the busy Admiralty Inlet shipping lanes.
5 mi loop, 260 ft elevation gain. A moderate hike that combines a coastal bluff ridge with a beach walk, showcasing the marine ecosystems of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the brackish Perego’s Lagoon.
The historic Ferry House, built c. 1858, was a place where early travelers to the island, arriving by boat, could get lodging, food, postal services, supplies, and overland transportation to Penn Cove, where they could continue their journey by ship. Some mistakenly think this is the Ebey House, but that structure no longer stands. The NPS is working on restoring the Ferry House to preserve it for future generations.
Upon their arrival to the island, the Ebeys set about building their home on their Donation Land Claim, which they called "Sunnyside." In 1856, they completed this small, tidy house. Maps, trail guides, and visitor information, along with interpretive panels are available at the house.
Island County Historical Society
Old Grain Wharf
In 1905, this 500 ft wharf was built to accommodate the development spurred by the construction of Fort Casey. Today, the wharf boasts a cafe, gift shop, boat rentals and small marina, as well as an exhibit on Penn Cove sea life.
A 645-acre camping park at the site of a World War II coastal defense fort. The park has three miles of saltwater shoreline on the Strait of Juan de Fuca, a freshwater lake for fishing, and miles of hiking and biking trails.
This preserve incorporates a nearshore kelp bed that grows upon a mix of rocks, boulders and ridges of hardpan and bedrock. The uplands consist of eroding sandstone bluffs and the shoreline is primarily composed of cobble, pebble, and gravel. Most of the upland is adjacent to the Fort Casey Conference Center and also includes the northern portion of Fort Casey Historical State Park. Fish surveys have documented large rockfish, black rockfish, lingcod, and striped seaperch. The area is near a popular salmon fishing site and several species of salmon are expected to move in and out of the reserve. Other biological resources include a variety of encrusting organisms, red rock crab, sea stars, red sea cucumber, red sea urchins and green sea urchins.
22 standard campsites and 13 partial-hookup sites with a maximum length of 40 feet. Available by reservation year round.
39 standard campsites, 11 partial-hookup campsites with electricity and water, one marine trail campsite (available only to campers who arrive at the park in human-powered watercraft), one group camp that accommodates up to 60 people. One restroom and two showers. Open Mar-Oct, reservations required.
15 campsites. Three can fit RVs, but only water hookups. First come, first served, open Apr-Sep.
By ferry
Washington State Ferries (WSF) operates the Port Townsend / Coupeville route, connecting Whidbey Island to the Olympic Peninsula.
By boat
By public transit
By shuttle
By bicycle
There are many walking and biking trails that provide opportunities to observe agricultural activities and natural and cultural resources.
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Friday Harbor · Regional · FRD
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