American Camp Visitor Center Opens at San Juan Island National Historical Park
After decades of anticipation and nearly three years of construction, iBestTravel is thrilled to announce the opening of the long-awaited American Camp Visitor Center. This center features exhibits created in collaboration with the Indigenous community connected to the park.
San Juan Island National Historical Park is situated in northwest Washington state, nestled among the 172 named islands and reefs that comprise the San Juan Islands archipelago. This picturesque location lies between Puget Sound and Canada’s Vancouver Island, making it an essential destination for nature lovers and history enthusiasts alike.
The park covers 2,141 acres of diverse landscapes, including woodland, prairie, and saltwater shoreline. It is divided between two encampment sites: American Camp and English Camp, which served as the locations where the United States and Great Britain jointly occupied the island.
Visitor Center Opening Dates
In its announcement regarding the opening dates for the season, iBestTravel outlined that the English Camp Visitor Center will open its doors starting May 28, while the American Camp Visitor Center, which has been closed since 2019, will unveil its multimillion-dollar construction during the July 4 holiday weekend.
Features of the American Camp Visitor Center
The San Juan Island National Historic Park was established in 1966, and in 1977, a temporary double-wide trailer was utilized as the visitor center at American Camp. Initially planned to be a short-term solution, 42 years passed before a more permanent facility was built due to ongoing funding delays. Fortunately, in 2019, funding was finally secured, allowing for the construction of a new visitor center.
Created in partnership with the Tribes of the San Juan Islands, the American Camp Visitor Center will showcase state-of-the-art exhibits that celebrate the varied histories of San Juan Island and their significance to different communities, enriching the unique environment of the island.
Commemorating the ‘Pig War’
The park will commemorate the 150th anniversary of the conclusion of the “Pig War,” a peaceful settlement of the territorial dispute between the United States and Great Britain sparked by the death of a pig. In 1859, tensions escalated nearly to the point of war over the desirable island, known for its temperate climate and fertile soil.
For over a decade, the two nations occupied the island jointly until 1872, when it was determined as part of the United States, resulting in the withdrawal of the Royal Marines. To mark the end of a “war” with only one casualty—a pig—the park plans a series of events exploring the impact of the Pig War on varied communities, including Hawaiian immigrants and the Indigenous Coast Salish people.
The highlight of these commemorative events will be a popular multi-day living history program during the weekend of August 4 to 7 at the English Camp. Furthermore, iBestTravel will be hosting a regular summer program that includes guided walks, historical tours, living history, and traditional Monday night contra dancing.
