Commander Charles Wilkes, a U.S. Navel Commander, named Hope Island for one of his crew in 1841, while charting the Puget Sound in the mid-1800s. Then, around 1900, the Louis Schmidt Family established a homestead and orchard on the south end of the island. They constructed a farmhouse, several outbuildings, a windmill, and a shallow well. A small orchard consisting of fruit and nut trees (apples, pears, walnuts) supplemented the family diet. They also brought livestock to the island and maintained a vineyard producing Island Belles grapes which were sold to a winery on Hartstine Island. Furrows from the old vineyard can still be seen amidst the dense Douglas fir that stand at the southeast end of the island. A few remnant vines can be found winding their way to the tree tops in search of sunlight Sarah and Robert Munn purchased Hope Island in 1943 for $20,000. Robert  died in 1954, and Sarah kept Hope Island as a vacation place and - though the Munns never lived on the island - visited frequently, especially in the summers. Sarah died in May of 1990 at age 97. Washington State Parks purchased Hope Island in 1990. Their goal is to protect the natural and human-made elements that make Hope Island special. Trails and boardwalks have been constructed to protect sensitive habitat. Open space around the orchards and homestead areas are being maintained by staff and volunteers.