Did you know...?

Did you know that Vashon and Maury Islands were discovered in May of 1792 by Captain George Vancouver. It was named in honor of his friend, Admiral James Vashon.

It was originally inhabited by the S'Homamish Indians, who were mostly driven out by pioneers in the mid to late 1800's.

S.D. Sherman along with his wife and four children settled on Vashon in 1877. That same year, other settlers included the John Gilman family and the Daniel Price family. More settlers followed in the next years.

By 1892 the only drydock north of San Francisco was established at Dockton, and construction of the Vashon College and Academy at Burton had begun. The first Island news paper was also published that year.

In 1907 the first automobile was brought to Vashon. In 1915 Vashon's first 24 hour electrical service began. It was around this same time that Portage was filled in officially connecting Vashon and Maury Islands - and the Middling Family first moved to Vashon.