At the heart of the Reserve
is the well-preserved 19th century seaport town of Coupeville, situated
just off SR 20 on Penn Cove. To see the community's picturesque Victorian
architecture first-hand take the Island County Historical Society's self-guided
walking tour. Brochures are available at the Historical Museum, where you will
also find fascinating exhibits on the island's colorful past. For a sense of
the town's maritime heritage, stroll out on the once-bustling Coupeville wharf.
Be sure to explore the varied eateries, antique stores, and gift shops that
line historic Front Street.
Beyond the streets of Coupeville, visitors can experience the rural beauty of the 17,400-acre Reserve by automobile, bicycle, or on foot. A self-guided driving/biking tour will lead you to scenic vistas, interpretive wayside exhibits, and historic sites. Look for the many one-hundred year old farmsteads, most still in use as working farms, scattered throughout the landscape. Visit the historic Admiralty Head Lighthouse and the ten-inch "disappearing" guns at old Fort Casey. Do not miss Sunnyside Cemetery with its many pioneer family headstones. At the cemetery, on Crockett Prairie, and in Coupeville, see several of the Reserve's historic blockhouses dating back to a brief era of settler-Native American tensions in the 1850s.
There are many ways to enjoy nature on a visit to the Reserve. Choose among the various memorable hikes and explore beaches, bluffs, woodlands, and prairies. Enjoy bird-watching at Crockett Lake, Keystone Spit, or Penn Cove. Scuba-dive in the waters of Admiralty Bay at Fort Casey State Park's underwater reserve. Launch your boat at Keystone Harbor, at Coupeville, or on Penn Cove at Monroe's Landing. Picnic or camp at Rhododendron Park Fort Casey, or Fort Ebey State Park.
The Trust Board of Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve maintains an administrative office in downtown Coupeville at the Island County Historical Museum. For more information on the Reserve in general, visit the museum (hours vary: call 360-678-3310), or write to:
Trust Board of Ebey's Landing NHR
P.O. Box 774
Coupeville, WA 98239
(360-678-6084)
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Additional Information Automobile/Bicycle Tour GuideNaturalist's Guide |
Stewardship Private property comprises over 90% of the Reserve.
Please respect the property rights of the residents of historic homes and
farmsteads and remember to hike only on designated trails. Dogs must be
kept on a leash at all times. Please leave driftwood, plants, rocks, and
other natural features within the Reserve undisturbed for others to enjoy.
Access Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve is located on central Whidbey Island off the coast of western Washington State. The island is easily accessible from the mainland by automobile, via SR 20 from Anacortes. The Washington State Ferry system provides year-round foot passenger and automobile service from Port Townsend and Mukilteo. In the summer season, ferry lines can be quite long, and travel delays should be expected.
Services Gas, food, and lodging are available on the island in Oak Harbor and, within the Reserve, in the town of Coupeville. For a listing of motels and bed-and-breakfasts in the area, call the Washington State Visitor Information Center/Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce at 360-675-3535. Camping on Whidbey Island is limited, with sites most readily available in the spring and fall. To find out more about camping at the two state parks within the Reserve call Fort Casey State Park at 360-678-4519 or Fort Ebey State Park at 360-678-4636.
Safety No beach fires are permitted within the boundaries of Island County. High tides can be dangerous to beach hikers. Use extreme caution to avoid being trapped on headlands and watch carefully for beach logs moved by sudden high waves. Wayside exhibits and scenic pull-outs are provided throughout the Reserve for leisurely viewing. Please avoid stopping your vehicle in the middle of narrow country roads.
http://www.nps.gov/ebla/theplace.htm
Last Updated: 12-May-2001