Suquamish Museum
Historical Sites
CHIEF SEATTLE’S GRAVESITE
Chief Seattle was born around 1786. His father, Schweabe, was from the Suquamish D’Suq-Wub village, and his mother, Scholitza, was Duwamish from the village along the Duwamish River. Chief Seattle grew up in D’Suq-Wub and likely traveled widely throughout Suquamish Territory, which spanned the Puget Sound, Kitsap Peninsula, Blake Island, the north end of Vashon Island, and what is now the City of Seattle. These lands were filled with resources—food, medicine, materials for clothing, shelter, canoes, and basketry—gifts from the Creator that the Suquamish cared for rather than owned. The Suquamish People also deliberately intermarried with surrounding tribes to build relationships for trade, peacekeeping, and alliances, which led neighboring tribes to call them the Squamps or Mixed People.
Chief Seattle witnessed Captain Vancouver’s arrival in 1792 as a young boy alongside his father. As a leader, he skillfully defended Suquamish villages when necessary and established peace when it was wise. In 1854, he represented his people in a speech to Governor Isaac Stevens, who aimed to confine tribes to reservations. The now-famous speech, spoken in Lushootseed and translated by his friend Doc Maynard, has been recognized worldwide, with excerpts inscribed at the United Nations Headquarters in Finland. Chief Seattle is best known for his leadership, his friendship with white settlers, and his hospitality.
Chief Seattle passed away on June 7, 1866, and was buried in this Suquamish Cemetery, which was already established before his death. It overlooks the young city that now
bears his name.
SUQUAMISH COMMUNITY VETERANS MEMORIAL
Locals refer to this site as Totem Pole Hill, named after the Lands In The Sky Totem Pole carved by Joe Hillaire (Lummi) for the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair. Joe Hillaire, who lived in Suquamish and was married to Suquamish Tribal member Lena “Granny” Legg-Hillaire, created the totem pole that stood here for decades before being retired. The Suquamish community selected this site for the Veterans Memorial.
The structure’s upright poles and beams represent “HOME,” while the faces on the two front poles symbolize warriors, always watching for the arrival of enemies or friends. The creatures on these poles are otters, representing intelligence and resourcefulness, a nod to the otters on the original Lands In The Sky Totem Pole. The back poles honor the men and women who served in the military, while the symbolic canoes, named after Chief Kitsap and Chief Seattle, carry the names of Suquamish veterans and veterans connected to the community, regardless of race, address, or place of birth.
Each Veterans Day, the community gathers here to honor and celebrate veterans, followed by a meal and songs of gratitude in the House of Awakened Culture.
THE HOUSE OF AWAKENED CULTURE
Completed and dedicated in February 2009, the LEED Silver-certified House of Awakened Culture was designed to honor the D’Suq-Wub Village Longhouse. After the burning of Chief Seattle’s Longhouse in 1870, the Suquamish People had no traditional communal space until this building was created. The House of Awakened Culture now serves as a gathering place for ceremonies like weddings, funerals, naming events, and celebrations, including Canoe Journey, Chief Seattle Days, and the Renewal Pow-Wow. It also hosts conferences, workshops, and inter-tribal, governmental, and cultural events.
Upon entering through the front door, the first pole on the left depicts one of the Suquamish Creation Stories. In this story, the Creator, also known as The Changer, wanted to determine whether People or Animals would have dominance in the world. He devised the Sla-Hal Game, a game of chance involving bones, discs, and sticks, where the winners would earn the right to hunt and eat the losers. The game lasted for days, and the People were losing until Wolf took pity on them and gifted them a song to bring strength and endurance. With renewed power and belief, the People won the game and gained dominance over the animals. In gratitude, the People vowed never to hunt or eat Wolf, although most other animals could be hunted. Today, the game is still played, but only between people, tribe against tribe, or family against family.
CHARLES RUSSELL LAWRENCE MEMORIAL POLE & BOAT/ CANOE RAMP
Charles Russell Lawrence was born in 1927 in Suquamish to Leo Leonard Lawrence and Bertha Ewye, both Suquamish. As a child, he and his siblings were taken from their parents and sent to Chemawa Indian Boarding School in Oregon, where they were forbidden from speaking Lushootseed or practicing their culture. After graduating, he returned home to find most of his family and tribe had passed away. Shortly after, he enlisted in the Army during WWII and was injured in the Normandy Invasion, suffering a gunshot wound to the knee. After recovering, he was diagnosed with tuberculosis and spent years in a hospital, where he met his future wife. They survived the illness, married, and returned to Suquamish.
Charles served multiple terms on the Suquamish Tribal Council and was an advocate for tribal rights, civil rights, and youth peacekeeping. He revived Chief Seattle Days and worked to secure the funding for the Suquamish Boat Ramp, later named in his honor.
A memorial pole, carved by several artists including his granddaughter Kah-Ty-Ah Moran, was dedicated in 2012. It features a double-headed eagle representing the Suquamish “Watchers” who defended the village. The eagle symbolizes Charles’ ancestors and his own vigilance for his people. Markings on the pole represent his knee injury and tuberculosis.
Charles survived many challenges, including the trauma of boarding school, war, and illness, yet he became a respected leader and family man. He passed away at 39, leaving behind a legacy of strength and resilience.
Old Man House Park
Old Man House Park, located on the shores of Puget Sound in Washington, is the historic site of the largest longhouse in the region, once home to the Suquamish people, including Chief Seattle. This longhouse was a center of cultural, social, and political life for generations, serving as a place for ceremonies, storytelling, and governance. However, in 1870, the U.S. government ordered the longhouse burned, aiming to dismantle Suquamish communal living and force assimilation. This destruction was a profound loss, severing a direct link to centuries of tradition.
Despite this tragedy, Old Man House remains deeply significant to the Suquamish people. Today, the park is a place of remembrance and cultural resurgence. The Suquamish Tribe, after years of advocacy, regained ownership of the land in 2004, reaffirming their connection to the site. Tribal members gather there for celebrations, ceremonies, and to honor their ancestors. It stands as both a symbol of resilience and a reminder of past injustices, ensuring that the history and traditions of the Suquamish people continue to be recognized and preserved. Old Man House Park is more than just a historical site—it is a living testament to the strength and enduring presence of the Suquamish people.
