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WELCOME TO EBEY'S LANDING! Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve is a unique place where history and natural resources come together to create a landscape of unparalleled beauty and richness. The Reserve's scenery is magnificent — dramatic bluffs rise from the waters of Penn Cove and the Strait of Juan de Fuca to dense forests and pastoral prairies while lakes and lagoons mark the rocky shores. The woods and coastal areas offer opportunities for hiking, boating, picnicking, camping, bird watching, and a host of other outdoor activities.
But Central Whidbey Island is more than just a pretty place — it is a working landscape that reflects man's relationship with the land over a period of thousands of years. People have had an important impact on the land, shaping landscape patterns and ecological relationships. The land has exerted its influence as well, rewarding human efforts in some places and foiling them in others. The result is a cultural landscape — a place that reflects the history of human interaction with the land. The landscape of the Reserve also tells the story of the people who have lived here — both the American Indians who first used the prairies and forests and the 19th century settlers whose houses, stores and farms are still being used. This tour will show you the Reserve's scenery, introduce you to its recreational opportunities, and help you learn about its history. Farm structures, fences and hedgerows, and the pattern of fields give the prairies and uplands their character and contribute to their scenic quality. Similarly, the larger pattern of open space and wooded lands reflects the balance between human needs and the demands of nature that has evolved during the period since human settlement. With this tour, you will learn to read the landscape, and see how it reflects the history of the place and the people who shaped it. A system of interpretive panels and kiosks provides additional information at several of the stops. We hope you will enjoy exploring the nation's first National Historical Reserve (a unit of the National Park System). Because much of the land in the Reserve is privately owned, it is important for visitors to respect property rights. All of the tour stops are located on public land, and visitors have unlimited visual access to farm and other scenic lands — look, but please do not trespass. The roads of the Reserve are used by farmers as well as visitors. You may encounter slow moving vehicles. Please drive or ride carefully and avoid disturbing livestock.
The tour is 43.6 miles long. Driving time will depend on how much time you spend at each stop. Allow at least two hours to complete the tour; you can spend considerably longer if you take advantage of opportunities for hiking, walking on the beach, and other side trips. Cycling time will vary depending on the cyclists' level of experience. If you plan to spend all day making the tour, you may want to read ahead and plan stops for walks and picnicking. The tour begins in Coupeville. Use the map on the next page to follow the tour. Driving tour signs (like the one sketched below) have been posted alongside the road to show you where to turn. Before starting your tour, you may wish to ready a brief history of Central Whidbey Island and the Reserve. There is also a list of resources for further information, to help you learn more about this special landscape and all that it has to offer. Enjoy your tour! |
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