Park Archives: Ebey's Landing National Historic Reserve

At Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve, past meets present in a working rural landscape and community. Established by Congress in 1978, the 17,572-acre Reserve integrates historic farms, a seaside town, native and pioneer land use traditions, and ecologically significant areas.

A Trust Board representing the Town of Coupeville, Island County, Washington State Parks, and the National Park Service manages the Reserve through creative conservation and planned development.

Whether you're a resident or visitor, we invite you to explore this memorable place as we chart the future while honoring the past.

When settlers like the Ebeys came to central Whidbey Island in the 1850s, they met the Skagit people living in shoreline villages. The Skagit had been here for centuries, living on salmon, bottom fish, shellfish, berries, small game, deer, and waterfowl. They cultivated island prairies by selective burning, transplanting, and mulching to encourage the growth of root crops like bracken fern and camas.

Capt. George Vancouver brought Whidbey Island to the attention of Europe and America in 1792. White settlers did not arrive in numbers until the Donation Land Law of 1850. Migrating settlers quickly staked claims while the Lower Skagit people were moved to reservations elsewhere on Puget Sound.

Col. Isaac Neff Ebey was among the first permanent settlers. Ebey and his friend Samuel Crockett came west from Missouri in search of land. Both filed donation claims on central Whidbey by spring 1851. Ebey's family soon followed. The simple home of Isaac's father Jacob and a blockhouse he erected to defend his claim still stand overlooking the prairie that bears the family name. Isaac became a prominent public figure, but his life was cut short in 1857. He was slain by coastal Indians in retaliation for the killing of one of their own tribal members.

Fertile farmland was not the only lure. Sea captains and merchants from New England took advantage of Penn Cove's protected harbor and the stands of tall trees perfect for shipbuilding. One such seafarer was Capt. Thomas Coupe. In 1852 Coupe claimed 320 acres on Penn Cove, which later became the town of Coupeville. He was soon joined by his wife Maria and their children, who arrived by clipper ship via Cape Horn. Central Whidbey's successful farming and maritime trade made Coupeville into a busy seaport.

In the late 1890s the US Army introduced another layer of history on the landscape with the construction of Fort Casey Military Reservation, part of a three-fort defense system protecting the entrance to Puget Sound. Fort Casey became a social center for the community, hosting ball games, dances, and other events. In the western part of the Reserve is the World War II-era Fort Ebey.

Central Whidbey abounds with place names—Coupeville, Crockett Prairie, Lovejoy Point, and Ebey's Landing—that honor people of the past. Their stewardship of the land continues in new ways by new generations.

National reserves are areas designated by Congress to preserve, protect, and interpret nationally significant natural, historical, and cultural features. Ebey's Landing, which includes one of Puget Sound's earliest European settlements, became the nation's first national historical reserve because of its long-surviving maritime and land-use traditions.

The Reserve is home-grown. In the 1970s citizens organized to block a housing development at Ebey's Prairie. The effort became a balancing act to preserve the cultural landscape with minimum disturbance to private landowners. In 1978 Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve was established to "preserve and protect a rural community which provides an unbroken historic record from ... 19th century exploration and settlement in Puget Sound to the present time." Reserves differ from other conservation areas in their approach to preservation and management. Ebey's Landing is administered through a collaboration of the National Park Service, Washington State Parks, Island County, and the town of Coupeville.

Congress intended Reserve lands to remain largely under private ownership, although there are also federal, state, and county lands within the boundary. Techniques used to preserve open space, farmland, and historic sites include land donations, tax incentives, zoning, local design review, and voluntary transfers of development rights.

You have an important role in the success of this innovative mission. As you explore, use designated trails and public access areas. Please respect private property, and do not enter farmers' fields, drive on roads marked "private," or park on private property.

The vistas, woodlands, and prairies of the Reserve are much the same today as they were in the 1800s when New England sea captains came to Penn Cove and farmers to the land. Yet the Reserve is far more than a snapshot in time. It is a working, changing community.

Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve is a living rural community. It does not have general operating hours or admission fees. It is always open and you can visit year-round.

Places of interest within the Reserve are independently operated. Hours vary depending on the season, and some sites charge a fee.

TOWN OF COUPEVILLE
At the heart of the Reserve is the well-preserved seaport town of Coupeville, just off WA SR 20. To see the colorful Victorian architecture, take the self-guiding walking tour.

Explore the shops and eateries along Front Street. Stroll out on the wharf, a reminder that travel and trade were mostly by water in the 1800s. Visit the farmers market April through November.

Stop at the Island County Historical Museum to learn about Coupeville, the Reserve, and Island County. Open seven days a week, year-round. For a listing of events in Central Whidbey, visit www.coupevillechamber.com.

TRAILS
The Bluff Trail overlooking Ebey's Landing has the most wide-ranging views in the Reserve: Mt. Baker, Strait of Juan de Fuca, Olympic Mountains, Mount Rainier, and historic farmland and prairie.

Trailheads are found at Ebey's Landing State Park and at the Prairie Overlook near Sunnyside Cemetery. An extensive trail system, popular with cyclists and walkers, is accessed at the Kettles Trail area off WA SR 20 and at Fort Ebey State Park.

WORKING FARMS
Many 1800s and 1900s farmsteads are still working farms. Roads, fences, and hedgerows often follow the boundaries of these original land claims. Early settlers' diaries describe abundant crops, some of which are still grown here.

WASHINGTON STATE PARKS
There are three state parks within the Reserve boundary: Fort Ebey, Ebey's Landing, and Fort Casey. The forts once protected the entrance to Puget Sound and its shipyards. You can explore their historic gun emplacements, as well as the Admiralty Head Lighthouse at Fort Casey.

FOR A SAFE VISIT
Beach fires are not permitted. • High tides can be hazardous to beach hikers. Use extreme caution to avoid being trapped on headlands, and watch carefully for beach logs moved by sudden high waves. • Please avoid stopping your vehicle in the middle of narrow roads or private driveways.

GOOD STEWARDSHIP BEGINS WITH YOU
Most of the Reserve is private property. Please respect the property rights of the residents of historic homes and farmsteads, and remember to hike only on designated trails.

Dogs must be kept on a leash at all times. Please leave driftwood, plants, rocks, and other natural features within the Reserve undisturbed for others to enjoy.

MORE INFORMATION
For information about lodging and other services, contact Coupeville Chamber of Commerce, www.coupevillechamber.com.

Discover more about the partnership that is Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve by visiting www.nps.gov/ebla.

Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve is on Whidbey Island in Puget Sound. The island is easily accessible from the mainland by vehicle via WA SR 20 from Burlington. The Washington State Ferry system provides year-round foot passenger, bicycle, and vehicle service to the island from Mukilteo and Port Townsend. In the summer season, ferry lines can be quite long, and travel delays should be expected. Caution: The Port Townsend ferry may be cancelled due to tide or weather conditions. For the ferry schedule, visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries.

The contents of brochures, site bulletins and trading cards (denoted with a colored caption) can be viewed by clicking on the cover. Most modern-day brochures, however, are cover only (denoted by a white caption) due to photograph copyrights. These items are historical in scope and are intended for educational purposes only; they are not meant as an aid for travel planning. The dates under each brochure do not reflect the complete range of years that a particular brochure was issued.

1982		1989	cover only Date Unknown
cover only Date Unknown		2008-2019

A Driving and Bicyling Tour Date Unknown	A Driving and Bicyling Tour Date Unknown	A Driving and Bicyling Tour Date Unknown	Naturalist's Guide Spring and Summer at Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve Date Unknown	Naturalist's Guide Fall and Winter at Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve Date Unknown	Trails Map 2014
A Walk Through History: A Guide to Historic Homes and Buildings of Coupeville Date Unknown	Self-Guided Walking Tour of Historic Coupeville Date Unknown	Self-Guided Walking Tour of Historic Coupeville Date Unknown	A Self-Guided Walking Tour of Historic Coupeville Date Unknown	Farms of Ebey's Reserve Date Unknown, c2008
Hedgerows: Dirty Fences or Farmers' Best Friends? Date Unknown		Jacob & Sarah Ebey House Date Unknown		Ferry House at Date Unknown
Traces of the Chinese in the Reserve Date Unknown		Camping and Accommodations Date Unknown		Working Prariies Date Unknown