Suquamish

Suquamish is a community of 4,100 people (2010) on the Kitsap Peninsula in the Puget Sound of Washington state. It is in the Port Madison Indian Reservation, the home of the Suquamish tribe and Chief Seattle. == Understand == Suquamish means "place of clear salt water" in the Native Lushootseed language, and has been the primary home of the Suquamish people since ancient times. It sits on Agate Passage, the heart of the Suquamish people and of Puget Sound. One of the most influential leaders of the Northwest, Chief Seattle, lived here at the Old Man House. He is buried at Suquamish Memorial Cemetery behind St. Peters Mission. Chief Kitsap, for which the county and the Peninsula are named, also lived in the area and was an influential leader. Visiting the areas forested hills, clear streams and endless clear salt water will give insight into why the original inhabitants of Puget Sound chose this region to call home and navigated these waters in well-designed cedar canoes. Today, Suquamish is a culturally and economically diverse area, with a mix of native and non-native residents that include artists, crafts people, local workers, commuters and retirees. Suquamish Tribal traditions are celebrated throughout the year and are a visible part of the Suquamish experience. == Get in == === By car === From the Seattle/Bainbridge Island Ferry, follow State Route 305 North towards Poulsbo approximately six miles. Make a right on Suquamish Way NE at the stoplight, just after the Agate Pass Bridge. Follow Suquamish Way NE. From the Edmonds/Kingston Ferry, take State Route 104 to Poulsbo. Turn left on State Route 305 and continue south through Poulsbo toward Bainbridge Island. Follow on Suquamish Way NE. From Tacoma, take State Route 16 West to SR-3 North towards Poulsbo. Exit at the Highway 305 Bainbridge Island exit. Follow through Poulsbo toward Bainbridge Island. Follow Suquamish Way NE. === By boat === For thousands of years before European explorers came to the area, the Suquamish people navigated the waters of Puget Sound and the Kitsap Peninsula with well-crafted wooden boats. They take their water travel pretty seriously. 1 Suquamish Dock, NE Pkwy. The Suquamish Dock is available for use by boaters but also has an important cultural function, making participation in canoe outings accessible to elderly and disabled tribal members. The public dock represents the Tribe's historical access and the town's connection to the water. The 526-foot dock is free to use for short-term for boaters to tie up to during the day to grab lunch, shop or explore Suquamish’s downtown core. Long-term or overnight moorage is limited to tribal vessels. === By shuttle === A free shuttle runs between the Bainbridge Island and Kingston ferry docks and the Suquamish Casino Resort. == Get around == The central area of Suquamish is accessible on foot from the central dock. === By bus === Kitsap Transit, ☏ +1 360 479-6962, toll-free: +1-800-501-7433, kitsapride@kitsaptransit.com. Kitsap Transit offers transit services throughout the area including pickup from all ferry terminals and connects with Mason Transit (Mason County), Pierce Transit (Pierce County), and Jefferson Transit (Jefferson County) offering connections outside of the area. full fare $2 and is part of the regional ORCA network system. == See == 1 Suquamish Museum, 6861 NE South St, ☏ +1 360 394-8499. Daily, 10AM-5PM. Learn more about the first people of the Kitsap Peninsula including their wooden canoes and traditions. Adult $5, senior 55 and over $3, child 5 to 17 $3, child under 5 free, family $15. (updated Jun 2018) 2 Old Man House Park. For at least 2000 years this was the site of the largest Suquamish winter village and longhouse in the region. The Old Man House was home to Chief Seattle before it was dismantled and burned around 1870 due to attempts by whites to anglicize the tribe. 3 Chief Seattle's Grave (in the Suquamish tribal cemetery, next to a small Catholic church). Pay your respects at this popular spot for tourists and historians. Seattle's gravestone is surrounded by a mound of grass and a walkway, and surrounded by two carved, cedar canoes. Visitors often leave gifts and mementos next to his grave and the city that was named in his honor can be seen across Puget Sound. Chief Seattle died in Suquamish June 7, 1866. The spelling of 'Sealth' on his grave marker that was later donated in 1890 was probably an effort to render the pronunciation more correctly, unfortunately the result of this effort toward accuracy has been the spread of a completely inaccurate version of the Chief's name. No Puget Sound area newspapers covered the actual funeral ceremony, and there is no indication that any of the founding pioneers of the area came to pay last respects. == Do == 1 Suquamish Clearwater Casino Resort, 15347 Suquamish Way NE. Although this resort is known for gambling, it also offers a Luxury Waterfront Hotel Resort with 85 rooms offering commanding views of Puget Sound, a zero entry pool, a spa, 4 restaurants including Agate Pass Deli, all-you-can-eat Longhouse Buffet, Beach Rock Sport Lounge, and well known Cedar Steakhouse. If that is not enough to keep you busy, they also have the White Horse Golf Club built on 456 acres and a long list of incoming bands and various performances. === Sea kayaking === The Suquamish navigated these waters in well designed cedar canoes for thousands of years and much of the designs of modern sea kayaks owe some debt to these early designs. Suquamish is an excellent place to start a sea kayaking adventure exploring the many harbor towns that cater to kayakers with shops and restaurants accessible from the water. ==== Kayak trails ==== Organized trails offer overnight camping options and maps of appropriate and scenic travel destinations, many of these trails follow the same paths that the Suquamish have used for thousands of years. Kitsap Peninsula Water Trails. PDF copies of the water trails map are available and Suquamish is centrally located on the trail. === Events === Chief Seattle Days. Third weekend in August. A celebration to honor Chief Seattle. Since 1911 when the celebration started, many of the same activities are still featured including the traditional salmon bake, canoe races, baseball, drumming and dancing, and a memorial service honoring Chief Seattle at his gravesite. == Buy == Suquamish Farmers Market (Directly Across from Village Shell Gas, on Suquamish Way). Mid-Apr to mid-Oct: W 3-7PM. Locally produced goods, food and crafts. With seven miles to the nearest full service grocery stores, this is the walkable way to pick up great food, flowers, handmade clothing, gifts, and art. == Eat == == Drink == Coyote Coffee, 16174 State Hwy 305 NE, ☏ +1 360 394-1800. Two drive-up windows, Grounds for Change coffee and tasty breakfast specials. Masi Shop & Shell Gas Station, 16281 State Hwy 305 NE, ☏ +1 360 598-4066. It may seem a little strange to put a gas station/convenience store on the to do list. But this place is tribally owned, above par and has coffee, tea, beer and wine. == Sleep == 1 Suquamish Clearwater Casino Resort, 15347 Suquamish Way NE, ☏ +1 360 598-8700. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: 11AM. Although this resort is known for gambling, it also offers a Luxury Waterfront Hotel Resort with 85 rooms offering commanding views of Puget Sound, a zero entry pool, a spa, 4 different restaurants including Agate Pass Deli, all-you-can-eat Longhouse Buffet, Beach Rock Sport Lounge, and well known Cedar Steakhouse. If that is not enough to keep you busy they also have the White Horse Golf Club built on 456 acres and a long list of incoming bands and various performances. == Go next == Cross the Agate Pass Bridge to Bainbridge Island Indianola is the other town on the Suquamish reservation Poulsbo There are several marinas nearby, including Eagle Harbor on Bainbridge Island and the public marinas in Poulsbo and Keyport. If you are following the Kitsap Water Trails, Suquamish is centrally located on the Kingston leg and also offers easy access to Bainbridge Island.