The San Juan Islands of Washington state, located where Puget Sound, the Straits of Juan de Fuca, and the Strait of Georgia meet, were once a bone of contention between the U.S. and Great Britain. 

On June 15, 1859, American settler Lyman Cutlar shot a pig that belonged to Englishman Charles Griffin of the Hudson's Bay Company, starting the infamous Pig War (the prize Berkshire Boar was the only causality). 

For 12 years, San Juan Island was jointly occupied by US and British forces.  This ended on October 21, 1872, when Keiser Wilhelm I of Germany declared that the San Juan Islands were American.

Today, the two camps occupies by both British and American forces are National Parks, and twice a year Living history Events are held at the camps, one early in the year at American Camp and one later in the year at British Camp.  Ron Garner --aka Blacksmith Ron-- has been taking pictures at both events now since 1999.

In 2004, he gave the Living Historians who help make the 2 camps come to life each year a set of these pictures.  With his most generous permission, we are sharing those pictures with you. 

At Encampment in 2007, he gave us another set of pictures.  Very soon they shall be available here for your viewing pleasure.

These pictures are copyrighted.  If you would like information about how you can get copies, please contact us.

The RON GARNER GALLERY: A STUDY IN LIVING HISTORY

~A Collection of 700 or so Images~
Ron Garner©1999-2004