Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve
July 16-19, 2024
The Washington Trust for Historic Preservation held our 11th annual Youth Heritage Project (YHP) in Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve on Whidbey Island. YHP is an immersive overnight summer program for high school students, focused on the history, culture, and nature of Washington’s special places. This program is a central piece of the Washington Trust’s work to engage younger and more diverse audiences in the important work of historic preservation.
This year, students had the opportunity to explore Ebey’s Reserve, the nation’s first national historical reserve. Students learned about the various peoples who have lived, worked in, and shaped the area—from early Tribes whose management practices resulted in prairies, to European settlers who established communities like Coupeville, to the U.S. military who built fortifications such as Fort Casey. Throughout Ebey’s Reserve, we saw various ways that climate change is impacting these landscapes, buildings, and features.
For more about the activities at YHP 2024 and our student projects, read our final report!
