• Mt. Baker from American Camp prairie

    San Juan Island

    National Historical Park Washington

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  • Park on Winter Schedule

    The American Camp Visitor Center is closed Thanksgiving Day, re-opening Friday. Winter hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Wednesday-Sunday. The English Camp Visitor Center is closed for the winter. Grounds at both units are open from dawn to 11 p.m. daily. More »

Plan A Field Trip

Park Ranger darlene Wahl assists students
Park Ranger Darlene Wahl assists fifth grade students from Friday Harbor Elementary during the park's "Habitats" education program. Habitats involves classroom and field work that includes several experiments as well as inventorying and monitoring.
NPS Photo
Park Ranger Ron Garner demonstrates the spoke-shaving horse.

Park Ranger Ron Garner, better known as "Blacksmith Ron," demonstrates the spoke-shaving horse for fourth graders from Friday Harbor Elementary School. Contact the park to organize a field day for your class.

NPS Photo

San Juan Island National Historical Park preserves and protects nearly 1,800 acres on San Juan Island, including prairies, lagoons, forests and mountains, and more than six miles of saltwater shoreline. Under the park's protective watch are seven historic structures dating to the 1860s, a rich archeaological resource of prehistorical and historical objects, as well as habitats rich with plants and animals.

It makes for an exciting classroom. Where else can you:

Hear about how an American miner-turned-farmer almost started a war by shooting a neighbor's pig while gazing at the Olympic Mountains across the Strait of Juan de Fuca...

Work with a classmate to saw a log just the way the soldiers and marines did it when they built their camps in the island's 19th century wilderness...

Listen to woodpeckers drill and eagles call in the quiet forests of the Jakle's Lagoon trail, where one passes from mossy logs to prairie grasses in matter of minutes.

Remember to take only memories (and students!) home and leave only footsteps behind.

The above represent only a few of the range of opportunities for learning in the park. To find out more about education programs, please consult the menu at the top of this page.

  • Prairie Education Prairie Education

    Local schools and summer science campers are extensively involved with prairie restoration. Read More

Did You Know?

West Valley Road on San Juan Island

Many of San Juan Island's roads trace sheep runs cut by Hudson's Bay Company workers. They were led, in part,  by Fort Victoria Chief Factor and colonial Gov. James Douglas, from 1853 to 1859. Many of the workers were Cowichan Indians from Vancouver Island.