Fort Nisqually Living History Museum invites the community to Klahowya with free admission for Pierce County residents and members of local tribes 

On Saturday, April 26 Fort Nisqually Living History Museum celebrates its multicultural history with their first event of the 2025 season, Klahowya. The event runs from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. with free admission for Pierce County residents, members of local tribes and anyone with a Fort Nisqually Living History Museum membership.  

As the Puget Sound’s first globally connected settlement, Fort Nisqually in the 1850s was home to a diverse community from every corner of the globe, including Europe, the Caribbean and Pacific Islands, and the Americas. They greeted each other in the trade language of the time, Chinook Jargon, by saying “Klahowya” or “welcome.” 

Attendees at Klahowya will meet historical interpreters in period clothing answering questions and demonstrating historic trades and crafts, such as blacksmithing and tinsmithing.  Hands-on activities include planting seeds to take home, sampling food prepared in the museum’s period kitchen and visiting with sheep from a local farm. Embark on an exciting scavenger hunt through the Fort, explore its rich history in a fun and interactive way or participate in a free guided tour hosted by a historical interpreter. At 1 p.m., enjoy a traditional drum and dance performance by Chief Leschi Schools. 

The event will also serve as the launch of Fort Nisqually’s new book Klahowya: A Fort Nisqually Book in Chinook Wawa and English, which will be available for purchase during and after the event. Chinook Wawa was a common trade language developed between the Hudson’s Bay Company employees, the French-Canadian fur traders, and some of the local Native American tribes. This children’s book, written by museum volunteer Christin Pinto and illustrated by Fort Nisqually Historical Interpreter Christine Schuler, teaches the basics of Chinook Wawa as it follows the Fort’s two resident cats, Mahsie and Eena, on their adventures around Fort Nisqually. 

Fort Nisqually is pleased to offer free admission for Klahowya to all Pierce County residents, Native American tribe members and museum members. For those traveling from outside the county, tickets can be purchased in advance at FortNisqually.org or at the event. For more information visit FortNisqually.org or call (253) 404-3970.