Is Paul selling Allen Island or Allan Island?

If you are dreaming about a Northwest getaway to take the kids, the 292-acre island southwest of Anacortes owned by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen is back on the market at $13,500,000.

However, Allan Island – named in honor of Captain William Henry Allen of the U.S. Navy – is spelled differently than the name of the captain (or the legendary Northwest entrepreneur).

Why is that?

The story goes that Lieutenant Charles Wilkes, who led the controversial United States Exploring Expedition from 1838-1842, was an admirer of the gallant rogue Captain Allen who died on the Argus while fighting the British in 1813. Captain Allen had his share of critics in the nation’s capital (Allen was known to set his captured ships on fire) so Wilkes dubbed the island “Allan.” Wilkes named the waterway between the island and Fidalgo Island “Argus Bay,” now Burrows Bay.

According to the Northwest Multiple Listing Service, Allan Island has 44 tax lots, an airstrip, caretaker’s log cabin, several sandy beaches and a dock. Property taxes for 2011 are $85,951.