Around 1790 Spanish explorers, and later Captain George Vancouver, discovered the San Juan Islands, located today in which state?

The picturesque San Juan Islands, an archipelago nestled in the Pacific Northwest, are a cherished part of Washington state today. Their discovery by European explorers around 1790 marks a fascinating chapter in the broader competition for territorial claims in North America. Spanish expeditions, driven by a desire to solidify their long-held claims to the Pacific Northwest, were among the first to thoroughly chart these intricate waterways.

In 1790, Spanish explorer Manuel Quimper, accompanied by officers like Gonzalo López de Haro and Juan Carrasco, sailed into the Strait of Juan de Fuca and first sighted the islands. The following year, Francisco de Eliza, another Spanish explorer, officially named them "Isla y Archipiélago de San Juan" in honor of the then-Viceroy of New Spain. Shortly thereafter, in April 1792, the British Captain George Vancouver arrived, meticulously exploring and charting the region, including the Puget Sound, and naming numerous features that still bear his influence. His detailed surveys, sometimes in cooperation with Spanish cartographers, were crucial in mapping the complex geography of the area.

The presence of both Spanish and British explorers in the late 18th century highlighted the contested nature of the Pacific Northwest. Spain's claims, dating back to earlier papal decrees and explorations, were increasingly challenged by other European powers. While Spain eventually ceded its claims to the United States in 1819, the exact boundary through the San Juan Islands remained a point of contention between the United States and Great Britain for decades, leading to the bloodless "Pig War" of 1859. Ultimately, an international arbitration in 1872 settled the dispute, solidifying the islands' place within the United States.