Built in 1906, this one room schoolhouse served students of the rapidly growing mill town of Camano City. It was used as a school until 1936. (Camano Island Historic Sites Group)

Built in 1906, this one room schoolhouse served students of the rapidly growing mill town of Camano City. It was used as a school until 1936. (Camano Island Historic Sites Group)

Camano Island opens its vintage doors to history buffs

CAMANO ISLAND — Locals and visitors are invited to explore history this weekend during the Camano Island Historic Sites Tour.

The free, self-guided tour takes people around the island to century-old schoolhouses and churches, popular parks, an inn, the home of one of the island’s oldest aid organizations, a Grange and a multi-generation farm still in operation.

Activities are planned Friday, Saturday and Sunday. They include a play, vintage music, square dancing and a history-mystery writing contest.

At 6 p.m. Friday, a “snapshot in time” at Cama Beach State Park will feature movies and memories from the past. On Saturday and Sunday, all historic sites on the tour are expected to be open, with volunteers on hand to share stories and answer questions. People can spend a day in the life of a 1916 Mabana School student or take in pump organ music at Camano Lutheran Church. The play, “Maude and the Kids — A Phoney History,” will be performed at the Camano City Schoolhouse, and there’s square dancing Saturday night at the Center for Wooden Boats at Cama Beach.

A full schedule of events is online at CamanoHistoricSites.com.

Gayle Picken, of 66Events &Marketing, said she encourages people to review the list of events beforehand then plan their trip. They’ll get the most out of the experience by participating and asking questions.

“The people who are going to be at each site are volunteers who are really, really passionate about the sites they’re preserving,” she said.

Many have put in hours of work to care for and research the sites. There are people whose families have been on the island for generations, and they can tell stories handed down from parents and grandparents.

“You’re going to meet people who have incredible stories about what life was like on the island 100 years ago,” Picken said.

The historic sites are open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Maps and information can be picked up at the Floyd Norgaard Cultural Center at 27108 102nd Ave. NW in Stanwood.

Kari Bray: 425-339-3439; kbray@heraldnet.com

Historic sites on the tour: Camano Lutheran Church; Camano Pioneer Cemetery; Kristoferson Farm; South Camano Grange; Mabana Schoolhouse; Camano Island State Park; Cama Beach State Park; Camano Island Inn; Camano City Schoolhouse; Utsalady Historic Vista Point; Utsalady Ladies Aid; English Boom; Floyd Norgaard Cultural Center.

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Gallery
The Kristoferson barn on Camano Island was built in 1914 from Douglas fir milled on site. (Camano Historic Sites Group)

The Kristoferson barn on Camano Island was built in 1914 from Douglas fir milled on site. (Camano Historic Sites Group)

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