The San Juan Preservation Trust is a private, non-profit and membership-based land trust dedicated to helping people and communities conserve land in the San Juan Islands. In 1855, Washington Territory levied a property tax on properties of the Hudson's Bay Company on San Juan Island, which the HBC refused to pay. Four ferry systems serve some of the San Juan Islands. Visit the San Juan Islands in northwest Washington State. The most recent two are on San Juan Island. In recognition for her service, Little Bit received the first 2021 dog tag. Create a Trip to save and organize all of your travel ideas, and see them on a map. Submitted by the San Juan Preservation Trust. San Juan Island is the second-largest and most populous of the San Juan Islands in northwestern Washington, United States. ), and well over 300 miles of shoreline. There are rare stands of old-growth Douglas fir and western redcedar (Thuja plicata). [22] 2016 populations estimates for inhabited islands are in parentheses, though some have major seasonal changes. In 1847, due to the confusion of multiple names on different charts, the British Admiralty reorganized the official charts of the region. [15] In spring, 2011 a pair of beaver appeared at Killebrew Lake on Orcas Island, but were killed to avoid flooding a phone company switch box buried under Dolphin Bay Road. [33][34], The San Juan Islands get substantially less rainfall than Seattle, about 65 miles (105 km) to the south, due to their location in the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains to the southwest. Smart, savvy, and seriously fun. Exploration by Europeans brought smallpox to the area by the 1770s. [4] The expedition sailed under the authority of the Viceroy of Mexico, Juan Vicente de Güemes Padilla Horcasitas y Aguayo, 2nd Count of Revillagigedo[5] and Eliza named several places for him, including the San Juan Islands, Orcas Island (short for "Horcasitas") and Guemes Island. Islands not in San Juan County are not part of the San Juan Islands, according to the USGS. This is due to the rain shadow effect of the Olympic Mountains located to the south and west. This list includes only those islands that are part of San Juan County as defined by the USGS, bounded by the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Haro Strait, Rosario Strait, Boundary Pass, and the Strait of Georgia. Whether you're an outdoor enthusiast or just want to take in the scenery, San Juan Islands is a great place to spend some time outside. Today, the San Juan Islands are an important tourist destination, with sea kayaking and orca whale-watching (by boat or air tours) two of the primary attractions. The USGS definition of the San Juan archipelago coincides with San Juan County. Tuesdays: 11:00am – 2:00pm. San Juan Island. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. home for sale:. Thus Vancouver knew of the names given by Eliza's expedition and tended to keep them, although he renamed some features, like the Strait of Georgia. It soon became clear that the US claimed Haro Strait as the international border, while Britain claimed Rosario Strait, with both sides laying claim to the San Juan Islands. Additional small rocks are listed at San Juan Islands National Monument. San Juan Island School District unequivocally stands for equity, and against racism and bigotry. Exploring the natural features in San Juan Islands. [17] When the sea otter finally received federal protection in 1911, Washington's sea otter had been hunted to extinction, and although a small remnant population still existed in British Columbia, it soon died out. North Shore Charters provides high-speed water taxi service to all of the main San Juan Islands. In 1790, Spanish explorer Manuel Quimper traded copper sheets for sea otter pelts at Discovery Bay, for live sea otters captured north of the bay in the "interior" of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Thus, in Puget Sound, the names given by Wilkes are common and Spanish names rare, while the reverse is true for the San Juan and Gulf Islands, although the Spanish did not explore Puget Sound as thoroughly as the British and Americans, resulting in fewer Spanish names at the outset. [20], On the islands is the San Juan Islands National Monument with 75 sections.[21]. Northern sea otter (Enhydra lutis kenyoni) remains are documented on Sucia Island in the San Juan Islands archipelago. He liberally gave new names to nearly every coastal feature not already named on the charts he had. Pebbled beaches, stunning sunsets and deep green forests - the San Juan Islands are Inspiration for the Senses! In 1841 the United States Exploring Expedition under Charles Wilkes further explored the region. [43] The strait is in constant use by vessels bound for Cherry Point, Bellingham, Anacortes, and the San Juan Islands. [30], The majority of the San Juan Islands are quite hilly, with some flat areas and valleys in between, often quite fertile. The San Juan Islands are part of Washington state, and form the core of San Juan County. Gnarled, ochre-colored madrona trees[32] (Arbutus) grace much of the shorelines, while evergreen fir and pine forests cover large inland areas. Passenger-only ferries serve more islands. The historic community of Roche Harbor on the north end of the island maintains an ambiance of relaxed sophistication with a picturesque resort, significant marina, boat launch, self-service air strip, numerous shops inclusive of grocery store, tennis courts, swimming pool, sculpture park, dog park, and more via thoughtful and timely growth. The honor went to Little Bit, an 8-year-old mixed breed who comes to work with owner, Robin Garcia, every day. Browse photos, see new properties, get open house info, and research neighborhoods on Trulia. In some cases Kellett moved Spanish names around to replace names given by Wilkes. The project, led by Henry Kellett, applied only to British territory, which at the time included the San Juan Islands, but not Puget Sound. The three largest islands are geographically unique: Orcas being the hilliest (The tallest peak is Mount Constitution at almost exactly a half-mile elevation. [42], Rosario Strait is also a major shipping channel. The rabbits are pursued by Eurasian red fox (Vulpes vulpes), another non-native species introduced intermittently through the twentieth century. By San Juan Island Library Join the Mullis Center Book Club at 1:15 p.m., Dec. 14, online. In 1852 the Territory of Oregon created Island County, defined to include the San Juan Islands (or "Haro Archipelago"). You have a choice of three alluring islands – Lopez, the most rural, a mix of rolling farmland and beaches; Orcas, the largest of the San Juan Islands and replete with verdant mountains and placid lakes; and San Juan Island, where vibrant Friday Harbor welcomes ferry and seaplane guests and offers an array of charming accommodations and gourmet eateries. In her acceptance speech, Little Bit encouraged all San Juan County dogs to … San Juan Island's Lime Kiln Point State Park is a prime whale-watching site with knowledgeable interpreters often on site. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=San_Juan_Islands&oldid=992750975, Articles with dead external links from May 2018, Articles with permanently dead external links, Articles with dead external links from August 2018, Articles with dead external links from July 2018, Short description is different from Wikidata, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Wikipedia articles incorporating a citation from the 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica with Wikisource reference, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, San Juan Cruises offers charter service to. The San Juan Islands are an archipelago in the Pacific Northwest of the United States between the U.S. state of Washington and Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. At the same time a Spanish expedition under Dionisio Alcalá Galiano and Cayetano Valdés y Flores was also exploring. San Juan Islander Minnie Kynch works for Washington’s Northwest Workforce Development Council, a business-led board that works with the community to ensure a skilled and competitive workforce, according to its website. Places to see, ways to wander, and signature experiences. [10] Great blue herons (Ardea herodias), black oystercatchers (Haematopus bachman), and numerous shorebirds are found along the shore and in winter, the islands are home to trumpeter swans (Cygnus buccinator), Canada goose (Branta canadensis) and other waterfowl. San Juan Island Washingon description. Can't-miss spots to dine, drink, and feast. [14] Also, there is a specimen of elk in the Slater Museum of Natural History at the University of Puget Sound that was collected on Orcas Island, and old-timers report finding elk antlers on both Lopez and Orcas Islands. San Juan Island's Lime Kiln Point State Park is a prime whale-watching site with knowledgeable interpreters often on site. It has a land area of 142.59 km² and a population of 6,822 as of the 2000 census. We have reviews of the best places to see in San Juan Island. Coldwell Banker estimates the median home price in San Juan Island is $750,000. Wilkes had given the name Navy Archipelago to the San Juan Islands, and named individual islands for distinguished officers of the U.S. Navy, such as Rodgers Island for San Juan Island, and Hull Island for Orcas Island. There are 179 active homes for sale in San Juan County, WA, which spend an average of 86 days on the market. Find what to do today, this weekend, or in December. $4.7 Million. [16] Although historical records of sea otter in the San Juan Islands are sparse, there is a sea otter specimen collected in 1897 in the "Strait of Fuca" in the National Museum of Natural History. total acreage. Customers on Lopez, Orcas, and San Juan can buy directly from farmers and food producers across the county on one convenient storefront and receive their orders at a weekly pick-up on each island. There are no bridges to the San Juan Islands; therefore, all travel from the mainland is either by water or by air.[38]. The San Juan Islander was published in Friday Harbor, Washington and with 6,116 searchable pages from . Right now, there are 167 homes listed for sale in San Juan Island, including 35 condos and 0 foreclosures. The name "San Juan" was given to the islands by the Spanish explorer Francisco de Eliza, who charted the islands in 1791, naming them Isla y Archiepelago de San Juan. The San Juan Preservation Trust works with our local communities and people like you to permanently conserve and care for special places throughout the San Juan Islands. Saturdays: 11:00am – 2:00pm Looking for fun activities in October in San Juan Islands, San Juan Islands Hotels with Free Parking, San Juan Islands Pet Friendly Beach Hotels, San Juan Islands Cheap Pet Friendly Hotels, Hotels near (SEA) Seattle-Tacoma Intl Airport, Hotels near (FBS) Friday Harbor Seaplane Base. [35] Summertime high temperatures are around 70 °F (21 °C), while average wintertime lows are in the high 30s and low 40s Fahrenheit (around 5 degrees Celsius). [18] Professional marine mammal biologists verified a single sea otter observed near Cattle Point, San Juan Island in October 1996. Read more. It’s the ultimate way to take in the beauty of this region that Mother Nature has so abundantly blessed. While both sides agreed that all of Vancouver Island would remain British, the treaty did not specify which channel the boundary should follow between the Strait of Georgia and the Strait of Juan de Fuca, resulting in a boundary dispute. [22] To the north lie the open waters of the Strait of Georgia. Strong, dangerous rip tides occur near Turn Point, as well as near the northern end of Boundary Pass, between Patos Island Light on Patos Island and East Point on Saturna Island. As a reminder to ourselves and to our community, we again share the committee work achieved last fall creating guiding principles that make up our collective Cultural Beliefs. The Mansion Restaurant at Rosario Resort & Spa, Cruise Control Dinner Cruise & Yacht Charters, Dolphin & Whale Watching, Kayaking & Canoeing. Finding Lodging for your vacation is simple with our easy-to-use website. [8] The escalating dispute led to the Pig War in 1859 and the resulting San Juan Dispute, which was a protracted diplomatic confrontation. The Lopez landscape blends forests with rolling farmlands, quiet bays and driftwood-strewn beaches with distant views of mountain ranges and snow-tipped Mount Baker. The San Juan Preservation Trust acquires Reef Island 17-acre island near Deer Harbor with a mile of shoreline habitat is now permanently conserved Dec 11th, 2020 Sailing Schedule for Anacortes / San Juan Islands Anacortes / San Juan Islands Port Townsend / Coupeville Mukilteo / Clinton Edmonds / Kingston Seattle / Bainbridge Island Seattle / Bremerton Pt Defiance / Tahlequah 2-Boat Fauntleroy / Vashon 2-Boat Fauntleroy / Southworth 2-Boat Southworth / Vashon Whatever your mood, you’re sure to find an Orcas Island restaurant prepared to please. Whether it’s whale-watching and sea kayaking, touring an art gallery or browsing a local farmers’ market, the San Juan Islands offer pleasing diversions for every age and interest. Vessels bound for British Columbia or Alaska also frequently use it in preference to the passages farther west, when greater advantage can be taken of the tidal currents.[42]. Coldwell Banker San Juan Island Inc., The Most Trusted, Productive Real Estate Broker in the San Juan Islands - Since 1960. Vancouver's expedition occurred within a year of Eliza's, and Vancouver encountered other Spanish ships and traded information. All these waters are within the Salish Sea. [16] Although the historical numbers of sea otter in the San Juan Islands is not known, the habitat for them may have once been ideal. In addition diving birds such as rhinoceros auklet (Cerorhinca monocerata), pigeon guillemots (Cepphus columba) and endangered marbled murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus) frequent the surrounding seas. More than 500 oil tankers pass through the strait each year, to and from the Cherry Point Refinery and refineries near Anacortes. 11.65. price. On the east side of San Juan Island is the town of Friday Harbor, also the San Juan County Seat. Welcome to San Juan Property Management, Here you can find vacation rentals on the beautiful San Juan Islands in our evergreen state. Fifty-nine sea otters were re-introduced to the Washington coast from Amchitka Island, Alaska in the summers of 1969 and 1970 and these have expanded by 8% per year, mainly along the outer west and northwest coast of the Olympic Peninsula. We have vacation houses available to rent in many great locations across the Islands and Friday Harbor in Washington state. 10 Kiya Way Friday Harbor, WA 98250. Air service to the San Juan Islands is provided by the following: The San Juan Islands are surrounded by major shipping channels. By island: Orcas 31, San Juan Island 31, Lopez Island 6, Shaw Island 0, outer islands 1. Visit top-rated & must-see attractions. There are three resident pods that eat salmon, but also some transient orcas that come to take harbor seals (Phoca vitulina). The islands are famous for their resident pods of orcas (Orcinus orca). The border, through Haro Strait, was finally established in 1872. The surrounding bodies of water, including Puget Sound and the Straits of Georgia and Juan de Fuca, were recognized collectively as the Salish Sea, by the United States in 2009 and by Canada in 2010.[9]. The islands were heavily logged in the nineteenth century, but now have an extensive second-growth coast Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. more, San Juan Islands Tourism: Best of San Juan Islands, Create a Trip to save and organize all of your travel ideas, and see them on a map. Thursdays: 11:00am – 2:00pm. These beaver likely swam from the mainland and could have recolonized the islands. We must be a part of the solution. World-class whale watching, kayaking, biking, hiking, farm-to-table dining, cozy lodgings. The Spanish had found the islands a year earlier during the exploring voyage of Manuel Quimper on the Princesa Real, but it was not clear to them that they were islands. Start planning for San Juan Islands. Friday Harbor, a historic seaport, rises from the ferry landing and public marina where it is an easy stroll to th The names that Wilkes gave tended to be patriotically American (heroes of the War of 1812 for example), or to honor members of his crew. Rev up your energy level with biking tours through rolling meadows and farmland, go birding on San Juan Island, hike the region’s modest mountains – offering outstanding vistas from the top – or go charter fishing for the day. Haro Strait joins Boundary Pass at Turn Point on Stuart Island, where a major navigation beacon, Turn Point Light, is located. Gated 1 1.65 acre estate embraces the coastal beauty of the west side with an unequaled standard of construction and architectural excellence. Providing highly personalized real estate services in Friday Harbor and Roche Harbor to buyers and sellers in the San Juan Islands. 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