Turn Island facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids Turn Island Marine State Park
Turn Island Marine State Park Location in Washington (state)
Location	San Juan County, Washington, United States
Nearest town	Friday Harbor, Washington
Area	34 acres (14 ha)
Elevation	69 ft (21 m)
Designation	Washington marine state park
Established	1959
Administrator	Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission
Website	Turn Island Marine State Park

Turn Island, nicknamed Racoon Island, is a 34-acre (14 ha) island in the San Juan Islands in the Salish Sea in the U.S. state of Washington. The island sits in the San Juan Channel about 900 feet off the eastern edge of San Juan Island. It is preserved as Turn Island Marine State Park and is part of the San Juan Islands National Wildlife Refuge. The island has 12 campsites and is only accessible by water.

History

Charles Wilkes, during the Wilkes Expedition of 1838-1842, thought it was part of San Juan Island and named it Point Salisbury after one of his officers. In 1858, the British found that it was an island with dangerous rocks in the channel between it and San Juan Island. The name Turn Island and Turn Rocks were given to mark the proper sailing channel.

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