Suquamish

Suquamish is directly north of Bainbridge Island on Puget Sound.  You can take the Bainbridge Island Ferry from Seattle (35 minutes), then drive north to Suquamish (15 minutes).

Suquamish is most famous as the burial place of Chief Seattle, and you can visit his grave today.  

The site of Chief Seattle's winter village is one-mile south of Suquamish at Old Man House Park on the shores of Agate Passage. The village was there for 2,000 years with a 790-foot longhouse, but burned down in 1870. Much of this history is documented at the fantastic Suquamish Museum, with a popular playground just down the hill.

Suquamish is part of the Port Madison Indian Reservation, established in 1855 by a federal treaty, known as the Point Elliot Treaty. After a 50 year leasing agreement with a developer ended, the Suquamish Tribe regained control of the 36-acre parcel of land known as Suquamish Shores in 2018. Much of the land is now being re-developed.

When visiting Suquamish, be sure to stop for lunch at Sully's Bistro and Bar, featuring a lovely patio with gorgeous water views.  The Suquamish Clearwater Casino is also a 10 minute drive away, with waterfront rooms.

5 best things to do at Suquamish

1. Sully's Bistro & Bar

Enjoy lunch or dinner at Sully's Bistro & Bar, with delicious seafood and cocktails (check hours).

2. Suquamish Museum

The Suquamish Museum opened in 2012, at a cost of $7.5 million. This striking 9,000 square foot building resembles a longhouse, and preserves artifacts, photographs and documents from the Suquamish people who lived in this area for thousands of years.  There are two galleries, a meeting area, gift shop and 50 seat auditorium. The largest gallery has an exhibition on "Ancient Shores - Changing Tides" with a 300 year old carved canoe, traditional dress constructed from bark, stone tools, and a collection of intricately woven baskets (check hours).

3. Chief Seattle Grave

Visit the Chief Seattle grave, 0.2 miles up the hill from the Suquamish waterfront in a cemetery. Chief Seattle signed the Point Elliot Treaty in 1855, and was a respected diplomat.  Many Native American Catholics are also buried in this cemetery. You can also take a look at the beautiful Saint Peter Mission church in the foreground, established in the mid 1800's. It burned down, but was rebuilt in 1906. 

4. Suquamish Park 

Suquamish Park is adjacent to the museum, and has sheltered picnic tables and grills, and a fabulous playground with swings, slides and a water feature.

5. Suquamish Waterfront

Stroll along the redeveloped Suquamish Waterfront, for glorious views across Puget Sound.  The beautiful new community center is the centerpiece of this park. It was constructed in 2009 and is known as the House of Awakened Culture. It has an expansive lawned area out front with a basketball court, that leads to a pier and a boat ramp. You can walk down the boat ramp to access the beach.  

6. Suquamish Veterans Memorial 

The Suquamish Veterans Memorial is across the road from the community center, and constructed in 2010.

7. Old Man House Park

Drive 1 mile south of Suquamish to the small park that was once the winter home of Chief Seattle.  Try to imagine the 790-foot longhouse that once stood on these shores and sheltered multiple families.  Much of this land was condemned in 1904, with a view to constructing a naval fortification. This never occurred, and the land was eventually sold off to developers for vacation homes in 1937.  Washington Parks preserved 1-acre of this site for a park in 1940, but handed it back to the Suquamish Tribe in 2004.