Submitted by Sandy Strehlou, Historic Preservation Coordinator.

May 2 – New Exhibit Explores Island History Using Humor and Exaggeration

On May 2nd, the Town of Friday Harbor installed a new outdoor public art exhibit in the Sunshine Alley breezeway. There’s a Story Here: Exaggeration Postcards Imagined is the third outdoor exhibit produced by the Town of Friday Harbor in this location since 2018.

Using iconic photographs from local collections, the exhibit takes local history and spins a whopper of a tale describing San Juan Island in the early years. There’s a Story Here combines history, humor, and image manipulation.

In their heyday, exaggeration postcards were an inexpensive genre of collectible souvenirs. Classics like the famous Jackalope, and gigantic fruits and vegetables on rail cars, are familiar images. More tongue in cheek than purposely deceptive, these postcards were popular between the early 1900s and the 1940s. While exaggeration postcards were produced in Washington state and throughout the nation, none have been found for San Juan County—until now.

The Town thanks Kristine Brown of Printonyx for research and graphic design, the San Juan Historical Society, The Whatcom Museum, Peggy Sue McRae and Jennifer Rigg for photographs, and Alicia and Jeff Carnevali for use of their building as our canvas.

The exhibit is free to the public and will be up in this location until May 2023.

May 4 – Lime Kiln History with Friends of Lime Kiln Society (FOLKS)

Join local non-profit Friends of Lime Kiln Society’s Executive Director Erin Corra to learn about FOLKS’ mission and the fascinating nature and cultural history of Lime Kiln Point State Park.

Considered a microcosm of the Salish Sea, Lime Kiln Point State Park serves as the perfect platform for inspiration, education, research, and stewardship. The frequent wildlife sightings of from this land-based viewpoint will change your life for the better! With over 400,000 visitors from 52 different countries visiting the park annually, it is clearly a critical education habitat that must be passionately protected. That is what FOLKS is all about!

May 4, 7pm-8:30pm, On Zoom. To register, email: sbenson@sjlib.org.

May 7 – English Camp’s Hidden History

Join the knowledgeable and always entertaining Mike Vouri for a guided walk exploring stories of English Camp—from pre-historic, Royal Marine, Crook family and National Park eras.

It was near this spot that Royal Navy Lieutenant Richard Roche in 1857 reported an “…old Indian village (with) immense quantities of clam shells on the shore.” On arrival, three years later, Royal Marine Color Sergeant W. Joy described “…a shell bank… averaged ten feet high, from thirty-five to forty feet through, by 120 yards long, it was the work of Indians, as they live very much on a shellfish called ‘Clams’, and deposit the shells just out-side their Huts, hence the bank I mentioned, the brush wood grew quite down to the water’s edge, in the rear the forest was growing in undisturbed tranquility…”

– San Juan Island National Historical Park website

The tour begins from the parking area at English Camp, located on Garrison Bay, 9 miles northwest of Friday Harbor. Address: 3905 West Valley Rd., Friday Harbor, WA 98250. This event is free to the public.