THE SEA THAT BUILT WHIDBEY

Before there were highways connecting towns, the water was our highway. Steamships carried passengers, freight, livestock, and mail. Fishermen, loggers, farmers, shipbuilders, and merchants all depended on the surrounding waters. Nearly every chapter of Whidbey Island’s story has a maritime connection.

Today’s guest is someone who has spent decades preserving and sharing those stories.

Lee James is a respected maritime historian, author, researcher, and longtime educator whose work has helped document the rich nautical heritage of Whidbey Island and the surrounding waters. Through years of research, public presentations, and historical interpretation, he’s become one of the island’s most knowledgeable voices on the people, vessels, industries, and events that have shaped this remarkable place.

When I began planning this episode, Lee was recommended by Peter Wells, the President of the Whidbey Island Maritime Heritage Foundation, saying he would bring both the historical knowledge, and the storytelling needed to tell Whidbey’s maritime story. I’m grateful he accepted the invitation.

In this conversation, we’ll travel through centuries of history—from the island’s earliest inhabitants and the arrival of European explorers to the growth of shipping, fishing, commerce, the Navy’s influence, and the maritime traditions that continue today. Along the way, we’ll hear some fascinating stories about the people who made their living on these waters and why preserving this history matters for future generations.

So, let’s cast off and dive into the remarkable maritime history of Whidbey Island with historian Lee James.

Lee, welcome to the Local Whidbey Podcast. It’s wonderful to have you here.

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With Magsy Info