Heritage Flight Museum

Skagit Regional Airport

The Heritage Flight Museum was founded in 1996 by William and Valerie Anders with the intent of honoring Veterans and keeping history alive for generations to come. Anders was one of three astronauts to participate in the first manned flight around the moon as a crew member on the Apollo 8 Moon Mission. Both William Anders and Heritage Flight Museum Executive Director Greg Anders had long and distinguished careers in the US Air Force, spanning from the start of the Cold War through more recent conflicts. It is their strong connection to the Air Force that guides the Museum’s focus.

Visitors of the Museum will be treated to a historic collection of 15 aircraft, several antique military vehicles, a library, artifacts donated by Veterans, photographs, and exhibits educating about the history of military aviation and spaceflight – including the story of the Apollo 8 Moon Mission.

The Museum focuses on keeping a number of iconic planes in working order to share with the public and is now the one and only place in our area to see the breathtaking spectacle of vintage warbirds in flight during their monthly Fly Days (typically held between May and September). From a single-ship fighter to a formation of T-6’s, there’s always something exciting going on!

The Heritage Flight Museum is also set to unveil an entirely new adventure for their guests: The ’68 Experience. This exhibit will transport visitors back in time to the year of 1968, arguably one of the most divisive years of the 20th century – not only for the United States, but also for the world as a whole. This point in history was full of both triumph and tragedy; it defined generations, brought about a sense of global community and perspective previously unknown to the world, and was rocked by a number of seemingly unimaginable events that cumulatively changed the earth and the future of humanity.

One thing is for sure, history takes flight over Skagit County at the Heritage Flight Museum!

The infamous Kiwanis Salmon BBQ is back for the 68th year! This Tulip Festival tradition, amongst locals and visitors alike, is returning to Hillcrest Park in Mount Vernon. It will offer both indoor and outdoor seating along with contact-less pick-up for those who want to take their meals to go.

Each meal features mouth-watering, wild King Salmon that is grilled to absolute perfection as it is smoked in a delicious secret glaze. Customers will also receive a fluffy baked potato, coleslaw, garlic bread, a drink and an ice cream bar. This year, the BBQ will only be serving meals on Fridays, Satur- days and Sundays during the month of April. historic Lincoln Theatre, McIntyre Hall, and other family-friendly experiences that can be enjoyed year-round. Outdoor enthusiasts are sure to find many opportunities for adventure within the borders of Mount Vernon’s foothills. This city has 19 public parks including the 517-acre Little Mountain Park that tops the list as the largest and most impressive. It is home to Eagle Rock Challenge Course, archery, mountain bike trails, walking trails, and a covered viewing area that is a perfect place to watch an infamous Skagit Valley sunset over the San Juan Islands, Olympic Mountains, and valley farmland. Several parks grant public access to the river which allows community members and their four-legged friends a refreshing reprieve on a hot summer’s day. It is not uncommon to see cars parked in precarious turnouts along the dike in Mount Vernon as eager fishermen hunt for the perfect fishing hole in the Skagit River.

In an effort to reduce their carbon footprint, the Club is also using compostable products.

Run entirely by volunteers of the Kiwanis Club means that every dime of the proceeds go to help kids locally and internationally through organizations like the Boys & Girls Club, scholarships, Mount Vernon Parks Department, Friendship house, Secret Harbor, and Community Action… just to name a few.

History Fact

Mount Vernon was named after the plantation estate of George Washington, first President of the United States.

The first settlers on the banks of the Skagit River,in a place that would eventually be called Mount Vernon, were Jasper Gates and Joseph Dwelley. They arrived in 1870,several years before Harrison Clothier and E.G. English who were later recognized as the city’s founders.

Hotels and saloons opened up along the banks of the Skagit River to house and cater to the many that were coming to take part in the area’s first industry,logging.

Mount Vernon's future was secured when it was chosen to be the Skagit County seat. Today, the county jail and most Skagit County government offices are located in Mount Vernon.

Mount Vernon has also experienced rapid growth in the past few years. It has become home to Skagit Station, which was built in 2004, to accommodate Amtrak, Greyhound, Skagit Transit, and taxi services in our community. This town is becoming well-known for its state-ofthe-art medical services including the newly-remodeled, award-winning Skagit Valley Hospital. It provides a full continuum of care to this community including its newest expansions featuring all private patient rooms, a new Emergency/Trauma unit, a new Family Birth Center, and expanded space for surgical and critical care.

Schools

The Mount Vernon School District has over 100 years of rich history and is the largest district in Skagit Valley. This district serves over 5,700 students in nine schools. It is a growing and diverse district that offers a wide range of educa- tional opportunities and high-quality instructional programs. In fact, Mount Vernon High School has become a sophisticated blend of historical and modern buildings that house some of the finest educators, course offerings, and students. Athletes from all over the state travel here to compete and showcase their talent in the legendary Mount Vernon High School gym which was ranked as one of the best gyms in Washington State. Mount Vernon is also home to Skagit Valley College; a two-year community college that grants academic transfer degrees, technical degrees and certificates. Its campus has experienced rapid expansion, remodeling, and new construction to meet the educational needs and desires of this area. Two private schools are also within Mount Vernon; Immaculate Conception Regional School offers K through 8th grade education and Mount Vernon Christian School is a K through 12th grade school with a high school facility.

– Mount Vernon

Community Profile – Mount Vernon

Copyright Notice: Unauthorized reproduction of these maps and/or indexes by any means without written permission from the copyright holder, I Love Skagit, LLC., is prohibited and will be prosecuted under Title 17 of the US Copyright Laws. These maps are provided as general reference to assist in the locating of businesses advertising herein. As such, they are not to scale and some streets may not be depicted or named.

To truly explore what Skagit County has to offer,it is appropriate to get a bird’s eye view. One of the best places to do just that is from the lookouts on top of Little Mountain in Mount Vernon. Take exit 225 (Anderson Road) go north to Blackburn Road and head east. Veer to the right and follow Little Mountain Road for 1/4 mile to the entrance of Little Mountain Park. The road eventually leads to a parking lot and two viewpoints offering incredible views of the valley below. Once you have your bearings.....start exploring!

Community Profile

Conway

Including Fir Island

Conway’s roots stretch back to 1873 when it was deemed a riverboat town

Due to its ideal location, the Great Northern Railway built a station in Conway in 1891. Since then, Conway has blossomed into a small town of friendly locals who are proud of their community, farms and small business district. Visitors will find antiques, a clothing boutique, wine tasting, and a historic pub known for their oysters. The town is also a gateway in April for visitors driving through the tulip fields and has become a stopping point for the motorcycle rally during the Annual Oyster Run in September. Located at the entrance to Skagit County from the south, many visitors will start their exploration of the valley here.

Just over the bridge to the west of Conway’s business district is Fir Island. This large land mass is located between the north and south forks of the Skagit River. Many people earmark this destination NovemberMarch for the incredible natural beauty of the flat rural farmlands and the many birds found here; including the snow geese migrating from

Wrangel Island in Russia. The 225 acre snow goose reserve is a major attraction on Fir Island where the sound of a flock of snow geese can be heard from up to 1 mile away. Travelers and photographers alike flock to this majestic area in Skagit County, not just for the bird watching and 180 different species of birds spotted here, but also for the open fields and farmland, breathtaking views of Mount Baker, the scenic dike along the Skagit Bay estuary, and the 13,000 acre Skagit Wildlife Recreation Area.

Copyright Notice: Unauthorized reproduction of these maps and/or indexes by any means without written permission from the copyright holder, I Love Skagit, LLC., is prohibited and will be prosecuted under Title 17 of the US Copyright Laws. These maps are provided as general reference to assist in the locating of businesses advertising herein. As such, they are not to scale and some streets may not be depicted or named.