The historic Jacob Ebey House, which overlooks Ebey’s Landing near Coupeville, was placed on a new foundation last week.

Workers started the project earlier in the fall when they lifted the house off its foundation to make room for a new one as part of an effort to turn the building into a visitors’ “contact station” that will be used by hikers and tourists.

Leigh Smith, operations manager with the National Park Service, said the structure still needs to be rehabilitated. In addition to improving the interior, workers will also repair the siding and windows of the home that was built in the mid-19th century. He hopes the work will be completed by the end of 2008. He said the contact station will be accessible by the trails, contain exhibits and be staffed by local volunteers.

The work on the Jacob Ebey House isn’t the only project taking place in Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve.

Fifteen people from North Cascades National Park spent three days improving the bluff trail that overlooks Perigo’s Lagoon. They installed 1,700 feet of switchback to improve the connection between the bluff and the beach down below. Workers took the soil from the new switchback and placed it over the old trail to prevent further erosion from occurring.