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Blake Island

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Overview

Blake Island (Lushootseed: tatču) is a Puget Sound island in Kitsap County, Washington, United States, that is preserved as Blake Island Marine State Park. The island lies north of Vashon Island, south of Bainbridge Island, and east of Manchester. On the northeast end of the island is Tillicum Village, a tourist attraction based on Northwest Coast Indian arts, culture, and food. The park is managed by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission.

Facts

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Source

WBP almanac

External sources

Wikivoyage Wikipedia

Media

From Wikipedia671 words

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Getting there and getting around

Boat rides to Blake Island depart from the Vashon Island ferry terminal and from Edmonds, but the most flexible option is a private charter from Seattle’s Pier 55. Aim for a mid‑morning departure; the short 30‑minute crossing allows you to arrive with daylight for a full hike. Once ashore, the island’s single paved loop trail can be tackled on foot or rented bike, but keep a spare pair of sturdy shoes for the occasional boardwalk detour near the shoreline. Remember that the park is car‑free – you’ll need to park the ferry’s bike rack or leave your vehicle on the mainland, an arrangement that encourages a slower, more attentive pace.

Beyond Tillicum: quieter corners

While Tillicum Village draws most visitors, the island’s northern ridge offers a different perspective. A modest climb to the highest point yields a panoramic view that frames both Seattle’s skyline and the distant Olympic Mountains, a contrast to the usual waterfront vistas. The surrounding mixed‑forest understory shelters occasional sightings of bald eagles and harbour seals lounging on tide‑pools. Bring a compact binocular set and a field guide; the understated wildlife here often goes unnoticed but rewards patient observation with a sense of the Pacific Northwest’s untamed edge.

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Blake Island’s Lushootseed name, tatču, hints at its longer history as a seasonal gathering place for local Coast Salish peoples. In contrast to the commercial performances at Tillicum, consider a brief walk to the modest interpretive panel near the beach, where you can read about traditional resource harvesting and the island’s role in regional trade networks. A quick chat with the park ranger, who often knows recent community projects, can reveal current collaborative stewardship efforts, giving you a glimpse of contemporary Indigenous‑led conservation beyond the usual tourist narrative.

Introduction

Island in the Puget Sound, Washington, U.S. This article is about the island in Washington. For the island in Antarctica, see Blake Island (Antarctica). Blake Island Marine State ParkThe island seen from the westLocation in the state of WashingtonShow map of Washington (state)Blake Island (the United States)Show map of the United StatesLocationKitsap County, Washington, United StatesNearest townManchester, WashingtonCoordinates47°32′19″N 122°29′34″W / 47.53861°N 122.49278°W / 47.53861; -122.49278Area1,127 acres (456 ha)Elevation190 ft (58 m)Established1959AdministratorWashington State Parks and Recreation CommissionBlake IslandMap showing relation of Blake Island to Seattle, WashingtonInteractive map of Blake IslandLocationPuget Sound, WashingtonAdministrationUnited States Blake Island (Lushootseed: tatču) is a Puget Sound island in Kitsap County, Washington, United States, that is preserved as Blake Island Marine State Park. The island lies north of Vashon Island, south of Bainbridge Island, and east of Manchester. On the northeast end of the island is Tillicum Village, a tourist attraction based on Northwest Coast Indian arts, culture, and food. The park is managed by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission.

History

[edit] Blake Island was traditionally used as a summer camping ground by the sx̌aq̓tabš, a predecessor band of the Suquamish tribe. In about 1786, according to Suquamish oral tradition it was the birthplace of Chief Seattle, a Suquamish and Duwamish leader for whom the city of Seattle was named.[citation needed] The first European to record the island was British explorer George Vancouver in 1792, as part of his exploration of Puget Sound, though it was not named. In 1841, Lt. Charles Wilkes of the United States Exploring Expedition named it Blake Island for George Smith Blake, the officer in charge of the United States Coast Survey between 1837 and 1848. Locally, it was known as Smuggler's Island. In the mid 19th century, the island was logged for its timber. During the Prohibition, it was frequently used as a refuge for bootleggers smuggling alcohol from Canada. William Pitt Trimble, a Seattle millionaire, purchased Blake island, and renamed it Trimble Island. By 1917 he and his family lived there in a magnificent estate. The Trimble family invited Camp Fire Girls from Seattle, and throughout Washington state to hold their first summer resident camp on Trimble Island in 1920. The girls named their camp Camp Sealth in honor of the birthplace of Chief Sealth. They paid for a delivery of logs, but soon found them floating away at high tide. They scrambled to haul them back, and soon found themselves dealing with a fire on the island. Because the Trimble family had other plans for the island, Camp Fire Girls of Seattle searched for a new, and permanent location for Camp Sealth and by the next summer had moved it to Vashon Island, where it remains today. The Trimble family's occupation of the island came to an end in 1929 when William Trimble's wife Cassandra died in an accident in Seattle, after which the family abandoned the island and left the house to decay. Trimble sold Blake Island to an investment company in 1936 and retired in Seattle. During World War II, a unit of the Coastal Artillery of the US Army was garrisoned in the Trimble mansion. The again-abandoned mansion burned around 1948, when a fire built by two young men trying to get warm went out of control, leaving only the foundations visible today. In 1959, the state of Washington made the entire island a state park. In 1993, U.S. President Bill Clinton hosted member economies' leaders on Blake Island for an APEC Meeting.

Activities and amenities

[edit] The park is only reachable by tour boat or private watercraft. Park boundaries extend one-quarter of a mile beyond the island's shoreline, providing moorage buoys and diving area. The park's 1,127 acres (456 ha) includes five miles of shoreline with views of the Olympic Mountains and the Seattle skyline. The park offers hiking and biking trails, fishing, shellfish harvesting, sports fields, and marina. The island is home to a variety of wildlife, including deer that sometimes swim from the mainland to the island from Manchester.

Blake Island

Getting there and getting around

Beyond Tillicum: quieter corners

A short cultural deep‑dive