The first Know Your Island Walk of the new year will be on Saturday, January 25, from 1:00 to 4:00 pm, starting at American Camp’s Redoubt. Mike Vouri, retired National Park historian, will lead this walk — as he did the very first walk in the series in January 2011. The Redoubt, a military defensive  Continue Reading

Here’s this month’s history column from the San Juan Historical Society and Museum… When this editorial cartoon appeared in the November 24, 1949 issue of the Friday Harbor Journal, no one could have foreseen what was to come. It heralded the beginning of one doozy of a severe winter from Old Man Winter or more scientifically,  Continue Reading

It’s happening in Port Townsend in 2020, from July 7th to 10th… The Washington Trust is pleased to announce that the application for our annual Youth Heritage Project is now open. This year’s program will focus on the recently designated Maritime Washington National Heritage Area, exploring the rich maritime history of Port Townsend and experiencing  Continue Reading

Boyd Pratt launched his newest book, “Island Farming: History and Landscape of Agriculture in the San Juan Islands,” at the Grange Hall to a large, enthusiastic crowd of farmers, Grange members, and others on Friday evening. He highlighted three themes from the book – bygone farmers, fruit-growing, and sheep-raising – but there are a multitude  Continue Reading

This year has been a year of roof replacements at the San Juan Historical Museum. Recently, the roof of the James King family home was replaced. The prior wood shingle roof had reached the end of its useful life and the time had come to undertake the project which was done by Bobby Ross Construction.  Continue Reading

Lynn Danaher shares this invitation with you… Due to our long-standing friendships with some of the residents, we have been invited by the Pitcairn islanders themselves to spend a month on Pitcairn exploring petroglyph sites and conducting forensic archaeology.  We will be the first to test for DNA at a historical burial site in Adamstown,  Continue Reading

Island Farming: History And Landscape Of Agriculture In The San Juan Islands by Boyd C. Pratt A free-ranging pig that caused an international war; a year’s crop of ginseng that paid off the mortgage; and a breachy cow that led to bloody murder. Farming in the San Juan Islands has always presented challenges and opportunities.  Continue Reading

Here’s this month’s history column from the San Juan Historical Society and Museum… This image was labeled “Hotel de Haro Christmas 1924” when it came to the San Juan Historical Society and Museum. We know little else about it, save for what we can see here. It’s hard to miss that big tree, which we know was  Continue Reading

Mike Vouri – Hadrian’s Wall In July 2019 San Juan Islanders Mike Vouri and Jerry McElyea hiked the 84-mile path that traces the line of Hadrian’s wall, a massive fortification erected by the Roman Emperor Hadrian beginning in 122 AD. Vouri will discuss not only the purpose of the wall and the means and methods  Continue Reading

Time for the November history column from the San Juan Historical Society and Museum… This month’s story was inspired by the smallest of items in the November 26, 1909 issue of the San Juan Islander newspaper. It was just 33 words. “The largest turkey raised on the islands this season was on exhibition on Wednesday  Continue Reading

Coming up this Friday, Oct. 25, is an informative talk by local historian architect, Boyd Pratt.  The topic is the island’s past,  “What Was Here Before You Were?”  This talk will cover early to later use of island land and locations of past endeavors.  It will be quite interesting for old timers and newcomers alike.  Continue Reading

Here’s this month’s history column from the San Juan Historical Society and Museum… Local history sometimes includes tales of a decidedly unearthly – or at least spooky – nature. Perhaps the most well-known of this island’s spooky tales are about the Cry Baby House. Once a homestead landmark at False Bay, this house is pictured here in  Continue Reading

Island Senior is a regular column on the San Juan Update written by Peggy Sue McRae… Recently my sister Betty unearthed a piece of applique needlework that I made in the 80s called “Grandma’s Garden”. It was my fanciful depiction of our grandmother Belle Mullis working in her garden. As kids growing up in the  Continue Reading

The Guard Family Celebrates 130 Years on San Juan Island Guard family members and friends, from the island and beyond, gathered on September 14 to celebrate the 130th anniversary of the family’s arrival on San Juan Island in 1889.  Paul and Elizabeth Guard’s descendants — from the 4th to the 8th generations — were represented. Thanks  Continue Reading

The Friday Harbor Branch of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints welcomes everyone to an afternoon with Dr. C. Wilfred Griggs presentation on Ancient Christian Studies This Seminar is for all interested in learning what the Bible is, and how it came to exist. We will also discuss how the idea of added  Continue Reading

It’s that time once again for this month’s history column from the San Juan Historical Society and Museum… It’s not often that a tiny slice of local history becomes part of an international story of considerable fame, but this is one of them. The Stuart Island portion begins on March 27, 1909 when the mail  Continue Reading