• American Camp prairie and Mount Finlayson.

    San Juan Island

    National Historical Park Washington

  • American Camp Visitor Center on Daily Schedule

    The American Camp visitor center will be open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., daily through Friday, June 2. Grounds are open sunrise to 11 p.m. The English Camp visitor center opens June 2. Grounds are open 8 a.m. to sunset. More »

Native Grasses

native grass
Roemer's fescue (above) and other native grasses were cultivated in 2010 in a demonstration garden located in front of the American Camp visitor center.
Mike Vouri
 

Native grasses  

One of the park's major projects at San Juan Island NHP is to restore the grasslands to native vegetation at American Camp. This is critical to restore the health of the ecosystem as well as support native wildlife. Native Grasses are critical for many species. For example, the streaked horned lark, which was once a common breeder on the Cattle Point Peninsula, is no longer found here because it nests at the base of bunchgrass, which has been crowded out by non-native plant species.  

Some of the native grasses that are being planted as part of the program are Sitka brome (Bromus sitchensis var. sitchensis), Jepson's blue wildrye (Elymus glaucus ssp. Jepsonii), and Roemer's fescue (Festuca roemeri).

Did You Know?

Did You Know?

The prairie at American Camp is one of the last remaining natural prairies in the Strait of Juan de Fuca/Puget Sound region. The park is currently involved in restoration, which includes controlling non-native species such as the European rabbit.