The British in South Puget Sound-
Who were the first explorers of Washington?

Imagine what Washington must have looked like to the first explorers who arrived on sailing ships. It must have seemed like an enchanted and inhospitable place, with its huge craggy mountains, raging rivers, and thick, tangled forests filled with giant trees. In the 18^th century, explorers from Great Britain, Russia, Spain, and America set out to discover what lay on the West coast of America. They were looking for easier ways to sail around the world while trading.

This ship is similar to Captain Vancouver's ship, the Discovery.

1792, British Captain George Vancouver sent Peter Puget and Joseph Whidbey to explore and chart Puget Sound. They were the first foreigners there. You probably recognize all of their names, since the explorers named the places they discovered after themselves, their friends, and important people back in England. That same year, American Captain Robert Gray discovered Gray’s Harbor. He also explored the Columbia River, naming it after his ship, The Columbia.

on to page 2