Site founded Sept. 1, 2000. We passed 7.75 million page views January 2017
The home pages remain free of any charge.
Please pass on this website link to your family, relatives, friends and clients.

Skagit River Journal

of History & Folklore
Free Home Page Stories & Photos
The most in-depth, comprehensive site about the Skagit
Covers from British Columbia to Puget Sound. Counties covered: Skagit, Whatcom, Island, San Juan, Snohomish & BC. An evolving history dedicated to committing random acts of historical kindness

Noel V. Bourasaw, founder

Sedro-Woolley, Washington, 98284
Home of the Tarheel Stomp

Mortimer Cook slept here & named the town Bug

Portal to Anacortes/Fidalgo Island/Deception Pass/outlying islands

This photograph shows a view from Bowman's Point, looking northeast across the Guemes Channel towards the Skagit County mainland, with the tip of Guemes Island to the left. The photo is courtesy of Windemere Real Estate, which supplies more background on the modern island.

Introduction to Amos Bowman's writing: Before and After — the Anacortes founder publishes an 1879 letter predicting the boom and follows up with an 1890 article answering his own predictions. Includes brief profile and timeline for Amos and his wife, Annie (Curtis), namesake of the town.
Capsule profiles of Anacortes and Fidalgo Island pioneers, businesses and place names, Part 1: A-L
Capsule profiles of Anacortes and Fidalgo Island pioneers, businesses and place names, Part 2: M-R
Capsule profiles of Anacortes and Fidalgo Island pioneers, businesses and place names, Part 3: S-Z
Anacortes Historic Photos from the files of author Paul Dorpat; publisher Wallie Funk, the old Puget Sound Mail newspaper and other collectors. And details of the Funk photo exhibit at the Anacortes Museum, shown from now to 2008.
The birth and boom of Ship Harbor and Anacortes and the Seattle & Northern train that finally chugged into Woolley in April 1890, the second of three rail lines in town. Transcripts from the 1906 Illustrated History of Skagit and Snohomish counties. From Subscribers-Paid Journal Issue 4. This feature is from our old domain and has not yet been updated, so some of the links will not work.
The boom and bust of the Anacortes Hotel and the real estate boom of 1890-91.
Features coming: Preparations from the early 1870s-on for a future railroad terminus, and the Oregon Improvement Co . . . .The Seattle & Northern Railroad arrives on Nov. 27, 1890, as the Anacortes boom wanes . . . George F. Kyle and the Anacortes Hotel . . . Bill Lowman and his pioneer family and the beloved Bobo . . . Bill Mitchell's cut-out murals that define and illustrate Anacortes social history . . . William Munks, his ghost hotel and his two wives . . . Carrie White's 1998 essay — "Anacortes Before the Boom"
Many more features and transcriptions of rare documents and photos, plus family descendant memories, will be posted starting in 2009-10.
The Anacortes History Museum and Carnegie Gallery's official site, is possibly the best such website in the state. It includes photos, history and the context of the Anacortes boom of 1890 and the attempts since then to establish a viable economy through the ups and downs of the ensuring 11 decades. The museum is located in the original Anacortes Carnegie library. We also highly recommend the museum's extensive and well organized research library. If you have questions or want to make an appointment to research, you can email to coa.museum@cityofanacortes.org or write to 1305 8th St., Anacortes, WA 98221 or phone 360-293-1915. Director Bret Lunsford, Curator of Collections Elaine Walker, Linda Yerby and Educator Bret Lunsford and the knowledgeable staff are very helpful. Slotemaker's research and database are very impressive as are his own writings. An exhibit of the Wallie Funk collection of Fidalgo Island and Anacortes photos opened at the museum in April 2006.
This map from Mapquest will show you the big picture of the area of Skagit County and the San Juan Islands west of I-5.

Story posted on June 30, 2006, last updated November 2017
Please report any broken links so we can update them

See this Journal Timeline website of local, state, national, international events for years of the pioneer period.
Did you enjoy these stories and histories? The process continues as we compile and collaborate on research about Northwest history. Can you help? Remember; we welcome correction, criticism and additions to the record.
Please report any broken links or files that do not open and we will send you the correct link. With more than 800 features, we depend on your report. Thank you.

Donations always welcomed!

Donations make a difference. If you would like to make a donation to contribute to any of the works of Skagit County Historical Society and Museum. From your PayPal account, consider specifying if you would like your donation restricted to a specific area of interest: General Funds, Skagit River Journal, Skagit City School, Facilities, Publication Committee, Special Events, any upcoming Exhibit. Just add those instructions in the box provided by PayPal. If not a donation, how about a Membership? Find information at this link. Thank-you! from the Director, staff and Board of Trustees

Please sign our guestbook so our readers will know where you found out about us, or share something you know about the Skagit River or your memories or those of your family. Share your reactions or suggestions or comment on our Journal. Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to visit our site.

Currently looking for a new guestbook!

View My Guestbook
Sign My Guestbook

Email us at: skagitriverjournal@gmail.com

Mail copies/documents to Street address: Skagit River Journal c/o Skagit County Historical Society, PO Box 818, 501 S.4th St., La Conner, WA. 98257