San Juan Island National Historical Park - Encampment 2009 set for July 25-26 (U.S. National Park Service)

	Encampment 2007 (80 Photos) The 10th anniversary of Encampment featured some of the best living history exhibits in the history of the invent. Highlight of the weekend was the official visit of Mary Gilbert, deputy consul general of the United Kingdom's San Francisco consulate. View Album \| View Slideshow
	Encampment 2008 (49 Photos) The 2008 annual Encampment at English Camp drew 80 re-enactors from throughout Washington and British Columbia. View Album \| View Slideshow

The precursor of Battery D Foundation color guard marches from during the first Encampment in 1998.

NPS Photo

The 1860s Color Guard representing the park and the Battery Foundation march from the blockhouse during the first Encampment in 1998. Still active members include Park Ranger Ron Garner (far left), Chris DeStaffany (second from left) and Oren Combs (second from right).

Gray's Harbor Historical Seaport

The new Lady Washington is a full-scale reproduction of the original Lady Washington. Built in the British Colony of Massachusetts in the 1750s, she became the first American vessel to make landfall on the west coast of North America in 1788.

Re-enactors from throughout the Pacific Northwest and Canada will once again celebrate peace as they gather for the 12th Annual Encampment and Pig War Sesquicentennial scheduled July 25-26 on the English Camp parade ground.

The event is free except where noted. Disabled persons should call the park at (360) 378-2902 or (360) 378-2240 for special access information.

The highlight of this year’s event will be the visit of the tall ships Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain from the Gray’s Harbor Historical Seaport. The ships are scheduled to arrive at noon on the 25th and will welcome visitors throughout the day. Other activities include recreations of mid-19th century Royal Marine Light Infantry and U.S. Army camp life, demonstrations of music, blacksmithing, horsemanship, spinning and weaving, sewing and cooperage and carpentry, along with the pageantry of period uniforms in scarlet and blue.

Black powder rifled musket demonstrations and the firing of Battery D’s mountain howitzer also are planned both days.* The activities on the 25th will culminate in the Candlelight Ball, scheduled at 8 p.m., in the English Camp barracks. The public is invited to join in the dancing and refreshments that will include the traditional cake and punch. Music for contra dancing will be provided by the folk group Sugar on the Floor. Click here to learn about the full line up of events.

The Encampment 2008 living history contingent proudly aligns for the annual photograph. As many as 150 re-enactors attend the event each year.

Ron Garner Photo

The Encampment 2008 living history contingent poses for the annual photograph in front of the Royal Marine blockhouse at English Camp. As many as 150 re-enactors attend the event each year bringing frontier skills such as blacksmithing, spinning and weaving, maritime craft, cooking (and cleaning up), as well as soldiering skills.

Chris Day of Silverdale, WA comes each year to play the fife with the U.S. Fife and Drum Corps. For Encampment 2009 they wore the livery of the USS Massachusetts.

Ron Garner Photo

Chris Day of Silverdale, WA comes each year to play the fife with the U.S. Fife and Drum Corps. For Encampment 2008 they wore the livery of the USS Massachusetts.

An Adventure Sail for a fee is scheduled aboard both ships at 3 p.m. on Sunday the 26th, with passengers embarking by longboat from the dock on Garrison Bay and boarding the vessels by Jacob’s ladder. Contact Gray’s Harbor Historical Seaport at www.ladywashington.org or 1-800-200-5239.

Encampment 2009 commemorates the peaceful joint occupation of San Juan Island by British and American forces from 1859 to 1872, and final settlement of the Northwest Boundary dispute. But this year’s event also celebrates the 150th anniversary of the peaceful resolution of the Pig War crisis, triggered on June 15, 1859 when Lyman Cutlar, an American, shot a British-owned pig for rooting in his garden.

This seemingly innocuous event nearly escalated into hostilities between elements of the U.S. Army and the Royal Navy on San Juan Island between July and October 1859. The crisis was quelled thanks to the restraint of Royal Navy officers on scene and the negotiating skills of Lt. Gen. Winfield Scott, commander of the U.S. Army, who made the six-week trip from New York City to the West Coast from Washington, DC.

Shortly after Scott re-embarked for the East, the two nations agreed to a joint military occupation of the island. The Americans elected to remain at their camp on the island’s Cattle Point Peninsula while Royal Marines established their camp 13 miles north on Garrison Bay.

Sharron Lawler and Mike Murphy race to complete their dishes.

Ron Garner Photo

Sharron Lawler and Mike Murphy race to complete pie crusts in Battery D's ever frantic and hilarious Cast-Iron Cook-off held each afternoon during the event. The folks in the background will sample and judge the cuisine

Ron Garner Photo

Sam and Tim Watkins of Maple Ridge, BC have been attending Encampment together since the very first in 1998. They plan join us in 2009.

Throughout the joint occupation the garrisons exchanged visits to celebrate holidays that included Christmas, the Fourth of July and Queen Victoria’s birthday. Typically the men would participate in athletic contests, imbibe in spirits and other refreshments and usually host a dance to which the community was invited.

The Encampment tradition was renewed in 1998 on the occasion of the dedication of English Camp’s 80-foot flagpole, a gift to the park by the people of the United Kingdom. The event drew nearly 600 people to the parade ground, including distinguished guests and officials from both nations.

For more information about Encampment 2009, call (360) 378-2902 or e-mail.

Re-enactors are invited to register for the event on the links provided below. The period is 1853-1872, U.S. Army, Royal Marines, British Army, Royal Navy. Those wishing to camp on the parade ground must have period tents and attendant equipment.

Application (Word)

Application (pdf)

Please FAX to (360) 378-2996, e-mail or post to San Juan Island NHP, PO Box 429, Friday Harbor, WA 98250.

*All black powder demonstrations are being performed with blank cartridges on a controlled range under NPS safety standards.

British Counsel Mike Upton gives the keynote address in August 1998.

NPS Photo

“The lessons of diplomacy are found right here,” said British Consul Mike Upton during the first Encampment in 1998.

Encampment 2007 (80 Photos)

Encampment 2008 (49 Photos)