Joseph Whidbey, Master of H.M.S. Discovery under the command of Captain Vancouver, discovered Deception Pass in 1792. In so doing, he proved that Whidbey Island, thought by the early Spanish explorers to be part of the mainland, was an island. Vancouver named this land "Whidbey Island" in honor of the officer who discovered it.
The first contact between the island Indians and white men occurred when Whidbey's party landed in Penn's Cove. In 1848, Thomas Glasgow took up a prairie claim near Coupeville. He planted crops, but soon the Skagit Indians became hostile, and Glasgow fled the island. Two years later, Issac Ebey claimed the land that Glasgow abandoned. Other families eventually arrived, and by 1856, there were seven blockhouses built for the protection of the settlers against the Haidah attacks.
Ebey became the leader of those early pioneers. He was a man prominent in public service and one to whom others turned in time of trouble. However, he was not a man to stand for an affront from the Indians. In his diary of August 19, 1852, he wrote, "Pulled an Indian's wool and kicked another one's bottom today for being impudent and saucy to Rebecca when I was absent."
Thomas Coupe, a sea captain, took up a claim in 1852 on Penn's Cove and it was on this property that the town of Coupeville grew. Coupeville is one of the oldest towns in the State of Washington. Coupe has the distinction off being the only man ever to sail a full-rigged ship through Deception Pass.
In 1857, Ebey was killed by the Haidah Indians. A Haidah Chief at Port Gamble had been killed, and Ebey, because he was the recognized leader of the white settlement, was beheaded in retaliation.
After World War I, the Island prospered. Farms were producing grain; cattle were being raised; dairy products, poultry, and berries were items of trade. A magnificent bridge was built across Deception Pass, and a regularly-scheduled ferry service from Mukilteo to Columbia Beach (Clinton) took the place of the up-island ferry from Everett.
Because of excellent flying conditions prevailing at Whidbey, Ault Field was established and is a permanenet United States Naval Air Station.
Whidbey Island is famous for salmon fishing, and several resorts make fishing tackle and boats available for this thrilling sport. Whidbey has shown a steady growth and is a favorite place for weekend getaways and retirement.
Today, Whidbey Island has all the charm of the country, yet the facilities and amenities of the city. Majestic views of the Cascade and Olympic Mountain Ranges, including Mt. Rainier and Mt.Baker, can be seen. Whidbey is a place of forest, farms and rail fences; of windswept bluffs and sandy beaches covered with driftwood; a place to find relaxation and contentment with its beauty.
Whidbey Island is a way of life!