The name Anacapa is thought to be derived from the Chumash Indian word "Eneepah" meaning ever-changing or deception, but that has never been proven. In fact, the only changeless thing where the Anacapas are concerned is "confusion". For example, Miguel Costanso , a member of the Portola expedition reported that "Anajup was the native name for modern Santa Cruz Island, and that this name was transferred to the neighboring Anacapas.

In 1770, Gaspar de Portola  himself mistook West Anacapa for the sail on a distant ship. When he learned his mistake, he named the islet Velo Falsa, false sail, and the adjoining islands Las Mesitas, or small tablelands. Four years later Juan Perez came along and renamed them "Isletas de Santa Tomas". The English Explorer George Vancouver, in the last decade of the 1700's, called all three islands "Eneeapah", but spelled it "Enecapa" on his maps. Later on, Gibbs, an 19th century map maker, has "Encapa", while the U.S. Coast Survey in 1852 set it down on their charts as Anacapa.

It is not known if Chumash Indians lived year round on Anacapa Island in permanent settlements. They did occupy all three islets at least seasonally however. There is evidence of at least twenty three kitchen midden areas. Perhaps lack of a dependable supply of fresh water was a deterrent, although the intertidal areas were rich in there offerings for these maritime people. There are no Spanish accounts of people living on Anacapa Island.

Anacapa Island is owned by the U.S. Government. Unlike neighboring Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa Islands, Anacapa Island has never had a private owner. In 1848 with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, Anacapa Island became a part of California territory. Eighteen-fifty brought statehood to California, and in 1853 Anacapa Island was surveyed by the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey to determine the need for a lighthouse. In 1854, Anacapa Island was set aside for lighthouse purposes, and was administered by the Lighthouse Bureau until 1938, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt assigned National Monument status to both Anacapa and Santa Barbara Islands. In 1939 the Lighthouse Bureau went out of existence, and Anacapa Island was assigned to National Park Service management. In 1980, legislation creating the Channel Islands National Park was passed by Congress and signed by President Carter. Anacapa Island's status then changed to that of National Park. Certain areas on Anacapa Island are reserved by the Coast Guard.

Shipwrecks

There have been over a dozen major shipwrecks on Anacapa Island, the most famous of which was the S.S. General Winfield Scott. Ships traveling between San Francisco and Los Angeles have historically followed the Santa Barbara Channel shipping lanes where many have made there last voyage. On December 2, 1853 the Winfield Scott, a 225 foot steam paddlewheel owned by the Pacific Mail Steamship Company was enroute from San Francisco to Panama with passengers, mail, supplies and nearly $2,000,000 in bullion. In a dense fog and under full steam, the Winfield Scott ran aground on the north side of Middle Anacapa due to pilot error. It was about midnight after all of the passengers had gone to sleep.  As luck would have it, the ship struck a slanting ledge of rocks and not the vertical rock wall only 200 feet in front of her. This allowed her crew to abandon the ship and salvage much of her cargo before she sank.

The following day the steamship California was attracted by a distress signal and came to the aid of the stranded. Although the California was heavily laden with passengers, she took some of the stranded passengers back to San Francisco. Captain Le Roy of the Winfield Scott sent members of the crew to Santa Barbara to notify the Pacific Mail Steamship Company of their fate. Dispatches were sent the 400 miles by rider. Eight days after the California departed, assistance arrived to the island camp. Provisions and water had been exhausted in the meantime and the situation had become desperate. The remaining passengers and crew were rescued and the ship sailed on for Panama.

Lighthouses

Shortly after the wreck of the Winfield Scott, the Coast Survey pointed out the need for a permanent lighthouse facility on Anacapa Island. It was not until 1911 however, that funds became available for the erection of an unmanned light. In clear weather the light could be seen twenty miles. It was constructed on a fifty foot tower on the extreme eastern end of East Anacapa Island.

The current lighthouse on Anacapa Island was turned on for manned operation on March 25, 1932. The site included a 30,000 square foot concrete pad for collecting rain, a water tank, light tower, powerhouse, a fog signal keeping building and several lighthouse keepers' dwellings. This is the only true lighthouse found on a California Channel Island.

The light was automated in 1968. Until that time (1932-1968) the light was tended around the clock by rotating crews of Coast Guard personnel. During World War II the light was turned off during the Pacific Coast blackout. During automation, all but one of the support buildings were razed. Perched on an elevation of 277 feet, the light is visible for 24 miles and the foghorn can be heard on the nearby mainland.

Inhabitants

The Indian influence on Anacapa Island as well as the other Northern Channel Islands may date as far back as 10,700 years ago. The Chumash Indians who occupied Anacapa Island were of the same villages that inhabited Santa Cruz Island, although travel between all the Channel Islands was common.

Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, explorer and navigator for the Spanish Empire was the first European to pass by Anacapa Island in 1542. Most early explorers failed to specifically mention Anacapa Island in their charts or logs. In 1848, Anacapa Island became the property of the United States Government with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.

During the 19th century, seasonal fisherman used Anacapa Island as a base. In an unsigned logbook of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic survey dated September, 1853 there is mention of an old house on the south end of Middle Anacapa. Captain George Nidever was one of the first persons after the collapse of Chumash Indian culture to have interests on Anacapa Island where he raised sheep, even though it was government property. During the next forty years Anacapa Island was bought and sold by several parties most notably was the Pacific Wool Growing Company. It was not until 1902 that the U.S. Government took an active role as land owner when it leased the island to Louis Le Mesnager for the grazing of sheep. Le Mesnager held the lease until 1907 when Heaman Bayfield Webster took over and increased the sheep operation to 500 head. Webster lived on Middle Anacapa Island for ten years with his wife and two sons. His children were educated by a tutor on the island in a tent school erected by Webster. In 1917 Webster tried to renew his lease for 25 years instead of usual term of 5 years. However, an Act of Congress was needed and since Congress was occupied with the war in Europe they had no time for such small matters. Webster lost his lease to Captain Ira Eaton.

Captain Ira Eaton assumed the lease for the next ten years. Captain Eaton had a resort operation on Santa Cruz Island and used Anacapa Island as a storage place for bootlegged liquor during prohibition. Eaton also sublet the island to the Santa Barbara Fish Company who placed fishermen on the island. No lessee was recorded between 1927 and 1932, however in 1928 Raymond "Frenchy" LaDreau arrived on West Anacapa Island and lived a hermit like existence for 28 years. Frenchy LaDreau became the unofficial Park Service representative, reporting on acts of vandalism and island activities. He was well-known among fisherman from Monterey to Ensenada. Although Frenchy enjoyed company, he lived with only his cats in one of several cabins built in a cove which now bears his name. He left in 1956 at the age of eighty. What became of him is unknown. C. Fay Chaffe was awarded the lease in 1932 and attempted the development of a sport fishing camp and pursued subletting.

In 1937 it was decided that no further leasing be allowed. Today only U.S. Coast Guard and Park Service employees reside on the island.