In 1968, a zoning request sparked a struggle over the future of Central Whidbey Island when proposed development threatened access to a beloved beach and the heritage farmland that might have been replaced by subdivided residential lots. Some local residents saw that a way of life was in danger, and community, historical, and environmental groups mobilized to begin a conversation that lasted for decades and strained friendships. Years of litigation, contentious council meetings, and exhausting public debate followed until a new preservation model emerged with the creation of Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve. Established in 1978, the Reserve relied on participation by the local population and partnerships with government to preserve this rural farming community as the nation's first National Historical Reserve and an experiment showing that a community can choose to preserve itself.

Coupeville, Washington · USA