• 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 »

Centennial Initiative 2016

1860s color guard celebrates peace at English Camp at the first Encampment.
Throughout its more than 40-year history San Juan Island National Historical Park has celebrated the benefits of peaceful arbitration between individuals and nations. The park's bi-national 1860s color guard embodies that theme.
NPS Photo
 
School children learn about prairie habitat on a field trip to the park.

Local and regional students learn about prairie habitat on annual field trips to the park.

NPS Photo

In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service in 2016, America invites the world to discover the meaning of national parks to their lives and inspires people to both experience and become devoted to these special places.

On August 25, 2006 – the 90th anniversary of the National Park Service – Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne launched the National Park Centennial Initiative to prepare national parks for another century of conservation, preservation and enjoyment. Since then the National Park Service asked citizens, park partners, experts and other stakeholders what they envisioned for a second century of national parks.

A nationwide series of more than 40 listening sessions produced more than 6,000 comments that helped to shape five centennial goals. The goals and vision were presented to President Bush and to the American people on May 31st in a report called The Future of America’s National Parks.

Each national park staff took the lead from this report and created a local Centennial Strategy to describe their vision and desired accomplishments by 2016. This is just the first year, and there are many great things to come as the National Park Service prepares to celebrate 100 years!

To keep up with the Centennial Initiative and to experience the interactive version of The Future of America’s National Parks and special features please visit the centennial website at www.nps.gov/2016.

Did You Know?

Colour Sgt. John Prettyjohn

English Camp's Colour Sgt. John Prettyjohn was awarded the Victoria Cross (Great Britain's highest award for valor)for his actions during the Battle of Inkerman during the Crimean War.