The Great Pig War of San Juan Island

Why did America and England almost go to war over a pig?

Friday Harbor residents dress up to commemorate the Great Pig War. Author photo.

San Juan Island, floating north of Seattle in the turbulent waters of Strait of Juan de Fuca, narrows to a long peninsula at its southern end, the land falling off like the tail of green kite. Trees do not grow at this end of the island, and for more than two miles, the wind blows unchecked over a prairie of…