One of the only National Parks that has a foreign flag flying without a US flag in sight is located on San Juan Island, and its history is quite interesting.

American Eagle
The San Juan Islands have the highest concentration of Bald Eagles than anywhere else in the country... well, at least that's what they said. I think we saw far more in Alaska, but that's just me.

Red-Tailed Fox
Brought to the island for sport hunting, it seems some of the foxes got away... San Juan Island has a considerable number of these predators.

On the hunt
We stopped and watched it, hoping to spot what it was looking for, but it ignored us, and we eventually continued on.

English Camp
In 1859, the ownership of the San Juan Islands was in dispute, so both the US and England agreed to jointly rule it until it could be resolved. An American farmer shot the pig of an English neighbor, and that event brought the two nations to the brink of war.

The Commissary
This was the Commissary for the English Camp. The English farmer complained to the Governor of Victoria, who dispatched British soldiers to the Island to restore order. The Americans appealed to the Governor of the Oregon Territoy, who also dispatched troops.

The well
Under this cap is a hand-dug well that provided water for the soldiers in the camp. The English set up on the Eastern side of the island, while the Americans set up on a hill on the Western side, to allow them to defend against ships coming to the island from Victoria.

The Block House
This block house was brought to the Camp from British Fort on Vancouver Island, Its design allows for a 360 field of fire, with the rotated upper foor eliminating any blind spots on the corners of the lower floor. It was used largely as a guard house.

Big Maple Tree
This maple tree was transplanted here at the request the wife of the British Commander, and is now quite large! As the two Armies set up thier camps, the Americans found out that the British were going to move more troops to the island. The American commander, Captain Pickett (of 'Pickett's Charge', later during the Civil War) warned that if they did, he would fire on the ships... he had guns from a war ship moved to his embattlements on the hill in the American Camp.

The big Maple
The maple was once considered the largest living Maple tree known, but during a storm, two large branches broke, and now another tree is larger than this one. The Brittish Commander refused an order by the Governor to attack the Americans, and appealed to his military commanders. Word finally got to Washington and London about the spat, and they quickly negotiated a truce.

The Officers Quarters
On a hill overlooking the Camp, A ledge was found that housed the Officers barracks. Both sides were allowed to keep thier troops on the island, and for lack of things to do, they improved thier positions.

Empty Ledge
This looked like the same tree to us... The Brittish spent the majority of their spare time in Drill, marksmanship training, and imrpoving their living conditions.

The view back then
A formal garden separated the camp from the Officers Quarters on the hill. The Americans spent their free time improving the positions of the canons (which were never used), and horse racing, which the British soldiers also took part in. In 1874, the ownership of the Islands was decided in favor of the Americans, and the British left.

The view now
The English Camp was purchased by a family who lived in several of the buildings, and used others to support their farm. Relatives eventually sold the property to the US Park Service for preservation.

The Formal Garden
Originally an herb and strawberry garden, the garden now sports several varieties of flowers

Lots of color
It smelled pretty nice!

Busy Bee
These flowers were covered with bees... it was interesting to watch with the little guy

Variety of colors
I guess I have work to do in my yard... =]

The parade field
The flagpole was donated by the 'People of Britain' as a sign of peace... the upper floor of the blockhouse is original, but the lower floor has been replace and restored.

The blockhouse
The bay beyond the blockhouse isn't deep enough to support the size of a ship that docked there when the English were here... but otherwise, it looks pretty much the same as it did back then.

Firing ports
The upper section had firing ports cut into it, while the lower section had notches cut that could be quickly knocked out if they were needed to be used.

Back then
The view of the camp from the water. Most of the buildings are gone now, but a good portion of the camp remains.

Shells
The Camp is located on a site that had been a summer camp of local natives since about 25 BC. They would harvest clams and oysters from the Sound, and shuck them on the shore, leaving these huge deposits of shells

Lots of time
Called 'Midden' this clamshell wall extended some 10 feet high, and stretched for hundreds of feet along the shoreline.

Orchard
The remants of the apple and pear orchard still remain as a testament to the Brittish desire for a sense of normalcy within the remote camp.

Pear
Surprisingly, the trees still produced fruit, which probably explained the considerable amount of 'sign' we saw of deer frequenting the area

Watching a movie
The little guy and I enjoyed watching the park's video about the site.

An old tree
There were a couple of old cedars that had seen better days in the parade field

Taking a picture
The little guy wanted to take a picture of mom on a stump, only he wasn't used to an SLR, and having to look through the eyepiece, so just 'Winged it'

A little low
His aim was a bit off, but he gave it an honest effort! =]

 

< Back to Currently