Camping On Vashon

Our Neighbor to the North

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Interesting Fact:

President Bill Clinton held the first official Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting on Blake Island.

Now a beautiful state park, Blake Island originally was home to a campsite for the Suquamish Tribe. Furthermore, it is believed to be the birthplace of Chief Sealth, for whom the city of Seattle is named. The island was not recorded by European settlers until 1792, and it was not officially named until 1841 after an officer in the United States Exploring Expedition. Eventually, it was renamed Trimble Island after a millionaire who bought the island in 1917. That millionaire, William Trimble, built his estate there and lived with his family until 1929 when the family moved back to Seattle following the death of his wife. Interestingly, the Trimble family allowed a campfire girls camp to use the island starting in 1920. The name of that camp was Camp Sealth, which now resides on Vashon! The island was eventually purchased by Washington State in 1959 and was turned into the state park that we know today.

For more information about the island visit: https://www.historylink.org/File/5491