Orcas Island Map Show

This collection of Maps of Orcas and the San Juan Islands began when the Orcas Island Historical Museums asked me, years ago, to reproduce the Wilkes 1841 map. This early rendition of the islands has a unique and notorious feature: two imaginary islands (Gordon and Adolphus) were inserted above Orcas. The crew, who were badly mistreated by captain Wilkes, thought that this error might topple the reputation and career of their cruel boss. Nope.

Gilbert Maps 1888 to 1895

(Below) The main map room features reproductions of various beautiful Historical maps of Orcas Island. Some highlighting attractions, resorts, and some showing Geographic and Topographic info. One Shows the development of the Eastsound Core from 1889 to 2020 in 4 Ariel views. A must see if you are visiting Orcas Island or enjoy Island History. See the show and more by donation at Orcas Historical Museum.

Main map room

(Below) A whole room dedicated to hand drawn maps of Orcas Island by the beloved Jean Putnam (1913-2004) Cartouches, corner design, borders, compass roses, and variations of color are unique to each map. So detailed some of the detail required painting under a magnifying glass.

Jean Putnam room

Unfortunately not much is know about the creators of these beautiful Maps.

Kimple San Juan Island Vicinity 1933
This graphic map of the San Juan island vicinity, originally a painting beautifully highlights local attractions such as strawberry farms and fish traps.

One we do know I little bit is Charlotte Olive Howard Kimple, Born May 31, 1907 in Wichita, Kansas. She lived in Wichita until some time after 1910 when the family moved to Norfolk Nebraska. Charlotte graduated from Norfolk High School where she was class president, and was a member of the glee and home economics clubs, as well as the girls orchestra. she attended the Minneapolis School of art and the Macphail School of Music.

Charlotte married David Kimple on Augest 25, 1933 in a small ceremony held in Eastsound, WA. He was a graduate of Orcas High School in 1922. At the time of her wedding, Charlotte was working as an artist and Merill was working as a forester and lead man with civilian Conservation Corps camp at Moran State Park.

In 1935 the couple was living in Ketchikan, Alaska. They returned to Eastsound and had two daughters: Gretchen Ann Kimple, born in 1937, and Caroljo Kimple, Born 1939. In 1940 the family was living in Eastsound and Merill was working as a farmer. They owned their own home, which was valued at $300.