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čičməhán (Cheech-ma-han) inherited his role as chief when his brother Klow-ston left the area, and he was officially recognized as “Chief of the Klallams” by the federal government in 1854. When settlers Hastings and Pettygrove first arrived in 1851 and met čičməhán, they sent him to San Francisco to reinforce his understanding of coming changes (in population and technology). His tour guide was James G. Swan, with whom he became a lifelong friend. In 1859 Swan wrote that čičməhán returned from San Francisco “with very enlarged views of the number and power of the white man.” The trip provided by the new settlers seemed to sober the Chief, who tried to mediate between the whites and Natives from that point on.

 

This building served as US Customs House, Court and Post Office when it was built in 1893, only five years after čičməhán’s death. To honor his memory, carved into the capitals of the Romanesque entrance columns (now closed because of high winds) are the heads of čičməhán, his wives siʔám'itsə (See-hem’itza, “Queen Victoria”) and Chill-lil (“Jenny Lind”), and his brother Klow-ston (“King George”).

 

Designed in the Romanesque style by W. J. Edbrooke, this is the oldest federally constructed post office in Washington state, and the only example of Richardson Romanesque design in a federal building in Washington. It is still in daily use by local residents.

 

 

 

photos by Barney Burke

 

 

 

čičməhán Trail Map...


 

 

Chetzemoka Park Four Points Fowler Building Hudson Beach/Big Heart Laurel Grove Cemetery Memorial Field North Beach Northwest Maritime Center Port Townsend Ferry Overlook Point Hudson Port Townsend Post Office Point Wilson qatay Lagoon qatay Prairie qatay Valley entinel Rock Swan School Union Wharf/Indian Island

 

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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Port Townsend Ferry Overlook 

 

 qatáy Lagoon

 

 


 

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