Check back for more photos reflecting the beauty of God's creation on Harstine Island

Do you have a favorite Harstine Photo that you would like posted here?  If so, email it to:

bob_thiessen@bccharstine.org

Harstine Island is located west of Case Inlet, in south Puget Sound, 10 miles north of Olympia In Mason County, Washington, USA. It has a land area of 18.65 sq mi, and had a population of 1,002 as of the 2000 census. The island has been connected to the mainland by bridge since 1970's. Before the bridge the island was served by the Pickering Passage ferry.

Hartstene vs Harstine

Of the several possible ways to spell the name of the island, Hartstene and Harstine are the most used and most popular. Both have been used nearly interchangeably in many published references.  Alternate spellings of the name include Hartstene, Harsteen, Harstein, Harstene, Hartstein and Harstine. In 1997 Washington State Legislative action resulted in the name officially becoming Harstine Island.

Spelling/History

On August 18, 1838 a group of ships lead by commanding officer, U.S. Navy Lt. Charles Wilkes (1798–1877) and referred to as the Wilkes Expedition or the United States Exploring Expedition left from Hampton Roads in Virginia on the east coast of United States for a round the world expedition. In 1841 the expedition explored much of the west coast including Puget Sound.

There is not much question that the expedition found and named the island that is now known as Harstine Island in Puget Sound for one of the officers of the expedition. Who that officer was and what the island was named is not clear.

• Charles Wilkes lists in his 1845 book, Narrative of the U.S. Exploring Expedition, Lieutenant H.J. Hartstien who joined the crew of the of the United States Brig Porpoise at Callao 

• Edmond Stephen Meany reported in his 1910 book History of the State of Washington that Hartstene Island was named for Lieutenant H.J. Hartstien. 

• Edmond S. Meany reported in his 1923 book Origin of Washington Geographic Names that Hartstene Island was named for Lieutenant Henry J. Hartstene

• According to the book The Washington Historical Quarterly By Washington University State Historical Society it is Harstine Island, named after an officer whose family name was undoubtedly Hartstene.

• Dr. Harry W. Deegan reports in his 1971 (revised) book History of Mason County Washington That Harstine Island is named for Lieutenant H. J. Harstine of the 1838-1841 Wilkes Expedition. This is mentioned in connection with an exploration of the Mason County area in 1845 by Michael T. Simmons and 8 others that was guided by Peter Borcier who had earlier guided for the Wilkes Expedition.

• The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife reports the island was named for Lieutenant Henry J. Harstine, a member of the Wilkes Expedition. and is often misspelled as Hartstene, Harstene, and Hartstine. 

• The web page Hartstenepointe.org sums the naming argument up "Hartstene Pointe Maintenance Association - A gated community on the north end of Harstine Island". The island is named Harstine, but a lot of things related to the island are spelled Hartstene.

National Historical Places

Harstine Island Community Hall

• Was added to the Natinonal Registry of Historic Places in 1989 - (Building - #89000212)
• Location - Intersection of North Island Dr. and Hartstene Island Dr., Hartstene Island
• Historic Significance: Event
• Area of Significance: Social History
• Period of Significance: 1900-1924, 1925-1949
• Owner: Private
• Historic Function: Social
• Historic Sub-function: Meeting Hall
• Current Function: Social
• Current Sub-function: Meeting Hall
• Sunday morning meeting place for Bridge Community Church

See also

Jarrell Cove State Park

References

1. U.S. Census Bureau. Harstine Island: Blocks 1000 thru 1027 and Blocks 1029 thru 1087, Census Tract 9611, Mason County, Washington (Web). Census 2000. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2006 December 9.
2. The following Determination of Geographic Names, being Order Number 98-1, done pursuant to chapter 43.126 RCW, is hereby transmitted to the Office of the Code Reviser for compilation and indexing pursuant to RCW 43.126.055.. WSR 97-24-046 BOARD ON GEOGRAPHIC NAMES Harstine Island (Web). Washington State Code Reviser's Office. Retrieved on 2006 December 9.
3. Smithsonian Institution Libraries. The United States Exploring Expedition, 1838-1842 (Web). Smithsonian Institution Libraries. Retrieved on 2006 December 9.
4. Wilkes, Charles (1845). Narrative of the U.S. Exploring Expedition, Volume 1. Philadelphia: Lea & Blanchard, Page xxxvii. 
5. Meany, Edmond Stephen (1910). History of the State of Washington Edmond Stephen. Macmillan, Page 75. 
6. Meany, Edmond S (1923). Origin of Washington Geographic Names. University of Washington press, Page 110. 
7. Washington University State Historical Society. The Washington Historical Quarterly. University of Washington Washington, Page 186. 
8. Deegan, Dr. Harry W. (1971 (revised)). History of Mason County Washington, Page 3. 
9. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Shellfish Regulations, McMicken Island State Park (Web). © 2000 Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Retrieved on 2006 December 9.
10. National Register of Historic Places, Washington - Mason County (Web). National Park Service (Added 1989). Retrieved on 2006 December 1.