Dreaming of an escape? Vashon Island offers a step back in time. It sits in Puget Sound between Seattle and Tacoma. Captain George Vancouver named Vashon Island after his friend Captain James Vashon in 1792.
Imagine life here before European contact. Native Americans thrived on Vashon for thousands of years. The Tulalip Indians populated villages along the shores. Fishing was abundant in the cold saltwater. Canoes were essential for travel.
The British Royal Navy sailed into Puget Sound in the 1790s. They searched for the Northwest Passage. They hoped for a shortcut to the Orient. They faced rough terrain and cold winters. The British abandoned their search.
In 1841, Captain Charles Wilkes led an American team to map the region. He named Maury Island after William Lewis Maury. Maury Island was separate from Vashon. Local landowners built an earth bridge in 1916. The two islands became Vashon-Maury Island.
Logging began on Vashon in 1852. By the 1890s, Japanese Americans grew strawberries for sale. Denichiro Mukai arrived in 1910. He perfected a method for barreling fresh strawberries. His method concentrated flavor and moisture. Mukai’s strawberries became famous. Ice cream and jam makers loved them.
World War II brought hardship. President Roosevelt sent Japanese-American families to internment camps. They left their homes and belongings behind. Some returned after the war. They rebuilt their strawberry farms.
Vashon College opened in 1892. It was a leading college. Sadly, it burned down in 1910. Dockton once housed the largest dry dock on the West Coast. It operated from 1892 to 1909.
Norman Edson documented Vashon life through photography. He invented a method to colorize images. He moved his family to Vashon. He captured Native Americans, logging camps, and the island’s beauty.
Today, Vashon maintains its rural charm. It resisted bridges to the mainland. Islanders value their unique way of life. Vashon is known for its strawberry festival and sheepdog trials. Small farms provide fresh produce. Vashon offers a peaceful retreat from city life. It is an island with a rich past.