Blake Island

Blake Island is an island in Kitsap County in Washington state in the United States that is preserved as Blake Island State Park. The island lies in the middle of Puget Sound, north of Vashon Island, south of Bainbridge Island, and east of Manchester. On the northeast end of the island is Tillicum Village, a showcase for Northwest Coast Indian arts, culture, and food.

Activities and amenities

The 475-acre (192 ha) island park has five miles of shoreline providing unobstructed views of the Olympic Mountains and the Seattle skyline. The park is only reachable by tour boat or private boat. There is a small marina and limited mooring buoys. The park offers hiking and biking trails, fishing, shellfish harvesting, and sports fields. The island is home to a variety of wildlife, including deer that sometimes swim from the mainland to the island from Manchester.

History

Blake Island was used as a camping ground by the Suquamish tribe. In about 1786, according to legend it was the birthplace of Chief Sealth, for whom the city of Seattle was named. The island was first noted by British explorer George Vancouver in 1792, as part of his exploration of Puget Sound, though it was not named.