Park To Look Ahead to 2013 In Community Reception at SJ History Museum

Cascade Hahn eases a log into place during the 2012 replacement of the English Camp blochouse lower story. The project required most of the summer to complete.

Mike Vouri

Date: December 27, 2012
Contact: Mike Vouri, 360-378-2240, ext. 2227

The public is invited to join San Juan Island National Historical park staff and volunteers in reviewing 2012 park operations and accomplishments and preview 2013 in a briefing and reception scheduled 6 to 7:30 p.m., Tuesday January 8, in the resource center of the San Juan Historical Museum.

The Etta Egeland Resource Center is located at 405 Price Street in Friday Harbor. Contact the museum at 378-3949 for accessibility information. Refreshments will be served.

"We are very upbeat about last year's accomplishments, "Taylor said. "As we look at the docket for 2013 we're beginning to realize it could be one of the key years in the history of the park. We want the community to be involved from the outset, and this reception is a way to make that happen."

Big ticket items on for 2013 include the park's continued work on an environmental impact statement for prairie restoration, finalization of design specifications for the 2014 renovation of the historic Crook house, and continued coordination with San Juan County and the Federal Highways Administration on the Cattle Point Road realignment design.

The park also will be conducting its usual medley of spring and summer programming activities such as Bloom Week (wildflower festival at American Camp); Civil War Sesquicentennial programming that includes a July 3 performance of the Life and Times of General George Pickett in partnership with the San Juan Community theatre; and the annual Encampment and Weaving weekends at English Camp.

Among park accomplishments in 2012 was the renovation by park staff and contractors of the entire lower story of blockhouse at English Camp; the establishment of a connector trail linking the English Camp and Mitchell Hill trail systems; ongoing work to restore the American Camp prairie; and the establishment of a major environmental education program, starting with Friday Harbor Elementary School's Fourth Grade and the Spring Street International School. The park also welcomed Lee Taylor as the park's eighth superintendent since its creation by Congress in 1966.

For information, contact the park at 378-2240, extension 2227 or 2228.