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History
Bainbridge Island is a relaxing, 35-minute ferry ride across Puget Sound from Seattle's business and financial center and offers a quiet way of life unique in major U.S. Cities. While the entire Island was incorporated as a city in 1991, the bulk of the commercial activities are concentrated in the downtown area with a small-town atmosphere. Though there is a full range of retail and business establishments on the Island to serve our residents, many working Islanders commute into Seattle by ferryboat. Often the starting point for sightseeing trips around the Olympic Peninsula and the Washington coast, Bainbridge Island connects the Island to the rest of Kitsap County via Washington State Highway 305 across the Agate Passage Bridge. Bainbridge Island has evolved from a history of shipbuilding, timber industry, an international shipping port, waterfront summer cottages, and berry farms to a Seattle-suburb community of year-round residents determined to keep the beauty and special feeling of Bainbridge Island intact. Bicyclists and joggers love the quiet roads of the Island and many parks offer delightful spots to rest or picnic. Overnight visitors find excellent accommodations in over 50 bed and breakfast accommodations and two on-island motels. Additional motel/hotel facilities can be found in Seattle and other nearby communities. The Island has a rich, interesting and sometimes tragic history. The following information has been excerpted from seattlepi.nwsource.com. In 1792, English explorer George Vancouver dropped anchor off the south shore of the island not far from a Suquamish tribal encampment. About 63 years later, the Suquamish gave up title to most of their land, including the island, in the Treaty of Point Elliott. The island got its name from the commander of a Navy frigate in the War of 1812, Commodore William Bainbridge. The island's economy was spurred in the late 19th century by a huge sawmill in Port Blakely, which attracted workers from all over the world. Japanese, Hawaiian and Filipino communities grew on the island over the decades. In 1942, islanders saw their Japanese American neighbors forcibly sent to detention camps during World War II. The city of Winslow was incorporated in 1957 and ultimately became a village of charming shops and public spaces that greet people disembarking from the Seattle ferry. In 1990, the electorate voted to incorporate the entire island and Winslow changed its name to Bainbridge Island. Click here for additional history of Bainbridge Island.
To get the full flavor of the Island's history and past inhabitants, visit the Bainbridge Island Historical Society Museum. The 1908 revised schoolhouse houses the long-term exhibits and the adjoining building provides space for a research library, office space, and a rotating exhibit gallery. Interesting Historical Links
Books about Bainbridge Island
These books can be found at the Bainbridge Island Historical Society or our local bookstore, Eagle Harbor Books. It's a great place to spend an afternoon, pick up a good book and go across the street to the Blackbird Bakery for an afternoon pick-me-up. Eagle Harbor Book Company Eagle Harbor Books is a full service, locally owned and independent bookstore here on Bainbridge Island. They offer new books from an extensive selection of authors from the Pacific Northwest and specialize in Bainbridge Island authors of which there are many. They also carry some used books. Great bargains! And if you want a specific book that's not on the shelf, they'll be glad to order it for you. |
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