Julia Vouri

San Juan Island National Historical Park Historian Mike Vouri.

Michael Vouri is the Chief of Interpretation and Historian for San Juan Island National Historical Park, located on San Juan Island in the state of Washington. For more than 14 years he has directed visitor services for the park, which includes historical research, program development, interpretive publications and wayside exhibits, living history and community affairs. He also is the park’s volunteer coordinator.

A communications professional with nearly 30 years experience in public affairs and newspapers, Vouri has held public affairs positions in state and federal government and private industry.  These include terms as Assistant Director, Field Services for the state Department of Veteran Affairs;  Chief of Public Affairs for the Air Force Reserve's 446th Military Airlift Wing at McChord AFB;  and Public Affairs Officer/Curator of History for the Whatcom Museum of History and Art.

During his nearly six years with the Whatcom Museum in Bellingham, Washington, Vouri was an arts advocate for the museum and worked to encourage cooperation between the various arts organizations in Whatcom County.  As a history curator, he created several exhibitions, including George Pickett and the Frontier Army Experience .

Vouri also has worked as a reporter and editor for weekly and daily newspapers in the Pacific Northwest, taught journalism courses at Western Washington University, his alma mater, and published articles on topics and issues related to Pacific Northwest history.  He also wrote a column for the Bellingham Herald.

He is the author of The Pig War: Standoff at Griffin Bay (1999), Outpost of Empire: the Royal Marines and the Joint Occupation of San Juan Island (2004); The Pig War, an illustrated history from Arcadia Publishing (2008); and Friday Harbor (2009), co-written with his wife, Julia Coffey Vouri.  He is best known throughout Washington State and British Columbia for playing George Pickett in the Life and Times of General George Pickett, a one-man show which in 2009 enters its 14th season.

He is a Vietnam veteran (1968-69).