Site of Old Fort Bellingham, where during the Native American war scare of 1856 Captain George Pickett built two blockhouses, which aided considerably in alleviating the fears of the few settlers, by warding off raiders from Alaska and British Columbia. These were later relocated to San Juan Island to establish American Camp.

A cluster of weather-beaten houses once occupied by families employed in the Bellingham mills or in fishing. Perched above the piles of driftwood on the beach were a number of shacks, where squatters led a hermit-like life. Gulls drift and soar, white wings flashing against the grey of stormy skies as they wheel and tack and soar with the gale, or swoop down, feet dangling like the landing gear of...

A nine mile long island with an average width of one to one and a half miles between Hale Passage and Rosario Strait at the west entrance to Bellingham Bay. In 1791, Juan Francisco de Eliza named it Isla de Pacheco, for the Viceroy of Mexico. Charts of 1792 by Valdes and Galliano used the same name. In 1841, Cmdr. Charles Wilkes called it McLaughlan's Island, to honor Dr. John...

The Beach Store is named for pioneer homesteader John (Wade) Beach. In 1901, Elizabeth M. Richards acquired the property and had a large new grocery built with an apartment behind and a large meeting room upstairs. The store became the Island’s post office that year and remained so until 1941. During the years the post office was housed in the Beach Store, letters going to the island were addressed to...