Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center
The Duwamish Tribe, the dxʷdəwʔabš, are the People of the Inside and are Seattle's First People. They are still here and continue to honor and bring to light their ancient heritage. Their lands used to encompass all of present-day Seattle and far beyond for thousands of years. Come visit the Longhouse and Cultural Center to learn about the Duwamish Tribe's important place in Seattle's past, present, and future.
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Longhouse and Cultural Center Hours:
Open in a limited capacity. Free and open to all. For more information on visiting and a monthly calendar of events view the Center's webpage.
Tuesday 10AM–5PM
Wednesday 10AM–5PM
Thursday 10AM–5PM
Friday 10AM–5PM
Saturday 10AM–5PM
Sunday Closed
Monday Closed
Photo attribution: by Joe Mabel, used under the GNU Free Documentation License, no changes made
About the Longhouse
The mission of the Cultural Center Project is to promote the social, cultural, and economic survival of Seattle Washington’s aboriginal Duwamish Tribe. On January 3, 2009, members and descendants of Seattle's First People, the Duwamish Tribe, held a Grand Opening ceremony at their beautiful new Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center.
The Center overlooks the Duwamish River Valley, near the village called hah-AH-poos (“Where there are Horse Clams”), a major archeological site known as Duwamish Site No. 1 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the village of and Tohl-ahl-too (“Herring House”). The Center’s proximity to these significant sites offers a rare opportunity to display never before seen artifacts and to create interpretive exhibits and tours to maximize its cultural and recreational public use. The Center serves as a tribal headquarters, education center, and meeting and ceremonial place. The space also includes historical exhibit space, Native Art Gallery, Native Gift shop and banquet, reception and meeting space.
History and Struggle for Recognition (adapted from Historylink.org)
The Duwamish (dxʷdəwʔabš) Tribe had enjoyed living and fishing in the Puget Sound area and along the Duwamish River Valley for many centuries prior to the arrival of white settlers in the mid-nineteenth century. In 1851 the Duwamish people -- and Chief Si'ahl or Si'at (aka Chief "Seattle," sometimes mis-stated as "Sealth") -- welcomed the arrival of the Alki landing party. This group comprising the Denny, Low, Bell, Boren, and Terry parties proceeded to found the city named in honor of the beneficent chief.
But as ever more newcomers arrived seeking land for homesteads, the Duwamish -- who had willingly provided the struggling newcomers with fish and other survival basics -- were shunted aside. Between 1855 and 1904, 94 traditional Duwamish longhouses were burned to the ground, according to tribal historian Thomas R. Speer. It was Seattle co-founder Charles Terry (1828-1867) who reportedly led an effort to raze the tribe's ancient village (hah-AH-poos), which was located along the banks of the Duwamish River at a site (which has been dated archeologically to 300 BCE, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places), just east of the new center.
For many decades, the Duwamish Tribe has struggled to gain federal recognition from the United States federal government. On January 19, 2001, that official recognition was finally granted under Bill Clinton’s administration, only to be reversed within hours of the new Bush administration assuming power. But through it all, the Duwamish Tribe has made heroic efforts to preserve and revitalize its culture. The tribe continues to seek federal recognition.
To learn more about the Duwamish people, their culture, and ongoing efforts visit their website for more information.
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Virtual Rewards 3.0 - 2022-2023
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between March 1, 2022 and March 1, 2023. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 3.0 on the Geocaching Blog.