Looking south, view Kilisut Harbor and Indian Island (now Naval Magazine Indian Island). Archeological evidence shows that Indian Island was an important location to the ancestors of the S’Klallam and Chimacum people for over 1,500 years. For many centuries, sea level was as much as 7 meters lower than today, making the harbor a fertile wetland.

In 1870,čičməhán (Cheech-ma-han) met with a Territorial delegate, asking that the Tribe be given Indian Island as the S’Klallam reservation, but that request was denied.

čičməhán and his family, including his two sons Charlie Swan York and Prince of Wales, moved to the village at the northeast corner of Indian Island called šéʔnək^w, after being forcibly removed to the S'Klallam Indian Agency (the Skokomish Reservation in Hood Canal) from Port Townsend in 1871.

Real estate records show that in 1887, a parcel of land was sold by Catherine McCurdy to pačwíɬəs (Prince of Wales) and Charlie York, the sons of čičməhán, and to James Webster (Chimacum Jim) and his wife Louise, whose descendants are citizens of today’s Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe. In 1888, pačwíɬəs purchased additional land at šéʔnək^w from Ms. McCurdy and maintained ownership and residency there until 1941.

Indian-owned lands on Ihudsonbeachndian Island were lost when the federal government took it through the Eminent Domain process in 1939-41, to convert the island into a Naval base.

Several other S’Klallam families lived across the bay in Port Hadlock near the Old Alcohol Plant (an area called ʔənəƛánnəx^w or Patsey’s hole). Canoe travel between the two places was common. Many S’Klallam and their descendants still live in the Irondale/Port Hadlock area.

1904 City of Port Townsend plat map of Indian Island showing S'Klallam-owned lands at šéʔnək^w (depicted in red) on the Island, and a close-up of the S’Klallam-owned parcels. From the collections of the Jefferson County Historical Society.

Click the markers on the map above to visit the
trail site pages.

Trail Sign Locations:

1. Chetzemoka Park
   _{900 Jackson St. (main entrance)}
    
2. Hudson Beach/Big Heart
   _{103 Hudson St.}
    
3. Point Hudson
   _{103 Hudson St.}
    
4. Northwest Maritime Center
   _{Water St. & Monroe St.}
    
5. Village at Memorial Field
   _{Washington St.}
    
6. Fowler Building
   _{226 Adams St.}
    
7. Union Wharf/Indian Island
   _{Wharf on end of Taylor St.}
    
8. Port Townsend Ferry Overlook
   _{1200 Block of Washington St.}
    
9. Port Townsend Post Office
   _{1322 Washington St.}
    
10. qatáy Lagoon
    
     
11. Laurel Grove Cemetery
    _{24th St. & Discovery Rd.}
     
12. Swan School / Klallam language
    _{2345 Kuhn St.}
     
13. Sentinel Rock
    _{1948 Blaine St. (Golf Course)}
     
14. qatáy Prairie
    _{1948 Blaine St.}
     
15. Four Points
    _{Blaine St. & and VanBuren St.}
     
16. qatáy Valley
    _{Pacific Ave.& Milo St.}
     
17. North Beach
    _{End of Kuhn St.}
     
18. Point Wilson
    _{Fort Worden}
     

 

 

 

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Fowler Building 

 Port Townsend Ferry Overlook