Deception Pass - The Facts

June 10, 1792, Deception Pass, named by Captain George Vancouver, believing that he had been deceived. He thought the area was a peninsula. As he further explored, he found that the islands character, Whidbey Island, had deceived him.

North of the Pass is Fidalgo Island, named by the Spanish explorer, Liutenant Salvador Fidalgo.

Whidbey Island, south of Deception Pass, is the second largest island in the Lower 48 States.

Captain George Vancouver named Whidbey Island after his trusted officer, Joseph Whidbey.

The water temperature in the pass averages 52 degrees F. in the summer months.

It took some 40 years of vision to have the bridge built. In 1891, Captain George Morse envisioned having a bridge built. In 1908 the area was surveyed.

In 1934, after many years of debate, the construction of the bridge begins. In 1935, the total cost of construction was $304,755. It costs more to paint the bridge now.

Height is 185 feet, depending on the tide. The length is 1,487 feet with a width of 22 feet for the road and a 3 foot sidewalk.

The depth varies from 4 to 37 fathoms, 1 fathom equals 6 feet.

The Editorial Staff