History
On October 2, 1968 North Cascades National Park Service Complex was established. This region used to be a land mass drifting in the Pacific Ocean before it became a part of North America millions years ago. The first Euro-Americans to explore the North Cascades wilderness was in the late 1700’s and the first recorded crossing took place in 1814 by a fur trader named Alexander Ross. Some of the early settlers trapped animals to make a living such as the Weaver brothers who created a taxidermy business which is now called Weaver Point. For many centuries natives have lived beside the Skagit River such as the four major bands: the Upper Skagit, the Chilliwack, the Nlaka'pamux, and the Chelan. The Upper Skagit band settled along the Skagit River from Diablo down to its mouth. What is now Ross Lake used to be the area of the Nlaka'pamux people. The northern section was occupied by the Chilliwack tribe. And where Lake Chelan National Recreation Area is now, was home of the Chelan people.