Submitted by San Juan Island National Historical Park

In 1792, Vancouver sailed the ocean blue – becoming the first non-native to discover the stunning inland sea of Puget Sound. On June 4, Britain’s Captain George Vancouver sailed his ships Discovery and Chatham into Saratoga Passage near Mukilteo, where he took possession of the Pacific Northwest – “New Georgia” – as a birthday present for King George III. Charting our shorelines with impressive accuracy, Vancouver literally puts our region on the world map.

This 225th anniversary of Vancouver’s historic exploring expedition coincides with the 2017 Festival of Sail in Tacoma, June 15-18, which brings a grand fleet of tall ships into the Peter Puget’s Sound. Many of these vessels will rendezvous for a commemorative parade of sail into Admiralty Inlet on June 13, celebrating the first tall ships in our waters during the administration of George Washington.

San Juan Island National Historical Park invites you to join us in honoring Britain’s famed navigator and his epic voyage of discovery. Witness this rare event – a flotilla of tall ships parading into Admiralty Inlet – from three Washington State Parks. The vessels will leave McCurdy Point, east of Protection Island, as close to 2 p.m. as possible, and will sail by Point Wilson, Admiralty Head, and Marrowstone Point before continuing on towards Tacoma.

A Discovery Pass is required for vehicles in Washington State Parks. For more information on the Tacoma Festival of Sail, visit festofsailtacoma.com

For information, visit www.nps.gov/sajh or contact Lynn Hyde at lynn_hyde@nps.gov.

When and where to view:

(Times are dependent on conditions. A Discovery Pass is required for vehicles in Washington State Parks.)

Fort Worden State Park at Point Wilson: 2:20–3 p.m.

Fort Casey State Park at Admiralty Head (Whidbey Island): 2:45–3:30 p.m.

Fort Flagler State Park at Marrowstone Point: 3:20–4 p.m.