• Mt. Baker from American Camp prairie

    San Juan Island

    National Historical Park Washington

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  • Park on Summer Schedule

    The American Camp visitor center is open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. The English Camp contact station is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Grounds at both units are open from dawn to 11 p.m. These hours remain in effect through September 2. More »

  • Detours Around Downed Skagit Bridge Functioning Well

    The Washington State Department of Transportation (WDOT) has posted the link below for both northbound and southbound detours around the collapsed Skagit River Bridge on Intertstate 5. 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?

American Camp's Officers' Quarters, built in 1859-1860, is the oldest structure on San Juan Island. It may have once been home to Capt. George E. Pickett of Civil War fame.