San Juan Island National Historical Park
The British and the Americans argued over the possession of San Juan Island from 1818 until 1872. Although the Oregon Treaty of 1846 gave the United States possession of everything below the 49th parallel, the wording left San Juan Island in dispute. The situation came to a head in 1859, when an American settler shot a British-owned pig. The subsequent hostilities became known as the "Pig War", leading to military occupation of the island by both British and American forces. Finally, the dispute was settled via third-party arbitration in 1872.
The sites of the two military camps were designated a National Historic Site by an act of Congress in 1966. Its purpose is to commemorate the peaceful resolution of the boundary dispute. The preserved area covers over 1,750 acres and lies in two different areas - the English Camp on the northwest part of the island, and the American Camp on the southern end. You can visit both the American Camp and the English Camp areas, and take in a laser disc slide program, and archaeology and historical exhibits at the two visitor centers. You can also enjoy hiking, picnicking, and wildlife viewing in the parks many beaches and coves.
