Stuart Island (Washington)

Stuart Island
Aerial view of Reid Harbor
South-facing aerial view of Reid Harbor on Stuart Island
Location of Stuart Island within the San Juan Islands
Geography
Coordinates48°40′25″N 123°12′18″W / 48.6736°N 123.2051°W / 48.6736; -123.2051
ArchipelagoSan Juan Islands
Area7.462 km2 (2.881 sq mi)
Administration
United States
CountySan Juan
StateWashington

Stuart Island is one of the San Juan Islands, north of San Juan Island and west of Waldron Island in the U.S. state of Washington. The 7.462-square-kilometer (2.881 sq mi) island is home to two communities of full and part-time residents, a state park, a one-room schoolhouse, and two airstrips.

History

Stuart Island was named by Charles Wilkes during the Wilkes Expedition of 1838–42, to honor Frederick D. Stuart, the captain's clerk of the expedition.[1]

Prevost Harbor is named for James Charles Prevost, captain of HMS Satellite. Nearby Prevost Island in British Columbia is also named after Prevost, while Satellite Island is named after his ship.[2]

Arts and culture

Parks and recreation

Stuart Island Airpark (background) lies on the eastern shore of Prevost Harbor across from Satellite Island

Two sites, both part of Stuart Island State Park,[3] are on public lands. One is located near the center of the island, and another is on the western coast, the site of the Turn Point Light Station,[4] a lighthouse guiding shipping in the busy waters of Boundary Pass to the island's north. Turn Point Light Station is on land administered by the Bureau of Land Management's Spokane District, Wenatchee Resource Area, Lopez Island Office.[5]

Sheltered anchorages for boaters can be found in Reid Harbor and Prevost Harbor, with public state park facilities in each.

Satellite Island, which lies in Prevost Harbor on the northeast side of the island, is used by YMCA Camp Orkila as a basecamp for teen expeditions and for field trips by campers.

Infrastructure

Two airstrips are located on the island. Stuart Island Airstrip (7WA5) is a 2,000-foot (610 m) grass runway,[6] and Stuart Island West (2WA3) is a 1,560-foot (475 m) dirt runway[7]).

Panorama showing typical views from Turn Point.

See also

References

  1. ^ Phillips, James W. (1971). Washington State Place Names. University of Washington Press. ISBN 0-295-95158-3.
  2. ^ Linda Burback (May 26, 2005). "Daily Expedition Reports, May 26, 2005, from the Sea Bird in Alaska - Stuart Island". Retrieved June 7, 2009.
  3. ^ Stuart Island State Park from the official tourism website of the State of Washington
  4. ^ Turn Point Lighthouse from the official tourism website of the State of Washington
  5. ^ "Turn Point Light Station Improvements". Spokane District Office Planning. Bureau of Land Management. July 21, 2008.
  6. ^ AirNav
  7. ^ AirNav