The Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve is a rural
historic district that preserves and protects the historical record of
Puget Sound exploration and settlement from the 19th century to the present. Historic farms, still under cultivation in the prairies of
Whidbey Island, reveal land use patterns unchanged since settlers claimed the land in the 1850s under the
Donation Land Claim Act. The nearby seaport community of
Coupeville, one of the oldest towns in Washington, is included in the reserve. Also included are both
Fort Casey State Park and
Fort Ebey State Park, as well as a section of the
Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail. The Central Whidbey Island Historic District, with the
Sergeant Clark House and the
Coupeville grain wharf, is part of the National Historical Reserve and is listed on the
National Register of Historic Places. Other protected lands within the reserve include the
Admiralty Inlet Natural Area Preserve.
History The Reserve at Ebey's Landing provides a vivid historical record of
Pacific Northwest history, including the first exploration of Puget Sound by Captain
George Vancouver in 1792; early settlement by
Colonel Isaac Ebey, who filed a claim under the
Donation Land Claim Act in 1850; growth and settlement resulting from the
Oregon Trail and the Westward migration; the Donation Land Laws (1850–1855); and the continued growth and settlement of the town of Coupeville.
Jurisdictions Unlike many National Park Service units, the Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve encompasses a mixture of federal, state, county, and private property. Authorized November 10, 1978, the reserve is a partnership managed by a local trust board. Limited federal facilities exist in the reserve, and only 209.06 acres (0.846 km²) of the reserve are federally owned. ==See also==