Captain Charles Wilkes, commanding a United States exploring expedition, visited this vicinity in 1841 and left the names Point Defiance, Neill Point, Commencement Bay, Maury Island, Robinson's Point, Colvos Passage, Gig Harbor, and Fox Island. The recommendation in 1855 and later of the United States military officers Stoneman, Harney, Casey, Wright, and others led the Federal government to reserve land at Point Defiance for military purposes. Francis W. Cushman in 1905, aided by other representatives from the State of Washington, secured a gift of the land to the City of Tacoma for a city park. Captain Charles Wilkes said, "Nothing can exceed the beauty of these waters and their safety. I venture nothing in saying that there is no country in the world that possesses waters equal to these."