Explore Native Culture and History with the Suquamish Museum's Cultural Bus Tour
This isn’t your average sightseeing outing. It’s a journey into memory, meaning, and place—an immersion into fascinating tribal history guided by those who know it best.
Brought to you in partnership with the Suquamish museum.
Just a short ferry ride from Seattle and tucked along the serene shores of Agate Pass, the Suquamish Museum has launched a deeply moving and beautifully curated bus tour, complete with a delicious salmon lunch, that invites visitors to experience the living legacy of the Suquamish people.
Our guide explains the cultural and historical significance of the former site of the Old Man House
the small group guided bus tour
Tucked along the serene shores of Agate Pass, the Suquamish Museum has launched a deeply moving and beautifully curated bus tour that invites visitors to experience the living legacy of the Suquamish people. The Suquamish Heritage Bus Tour, hosted by the Suquamish Museum, is a new offering that weaves together storytelling, sacred land, and community knowledge into a guided experience unlike anything else in the Pacific Northwest. With a seasoned cultural guide at the helm, guests are taken to a collection of essential sites that tell the story of a people whose history and traditions still live vibrantly in the land around them. The team at Love Kitsap were lucky enough to be invited to the inaugural bus tour to see first hand what this exciting new experience has to offer.
Suquamish heritage Bus Tours offered Fridays • June – September 2025
chief seattle’s grave
Leaving the Suquamish Museum, the tour begins at Chief Seattle’s grave site - a quiet, sacred site nestled beside St. Peter’s Mission in the heart of the Suquamish village. Here, under ancient cedar trees and surrounded by the resting place of ancestors, guests receive an introduction to the life and legacy of Chief Seattle—a Suquamish leader whose wisdom, diplomacy, and spiritual insight still echo through history. Our guide brought his story to life not as a distant historical figure, but as a father, warrior, and visionary who led with humility and deep connection to his people and the land.
house of awakened culture
From there, the tour travels to the House of Awakened Culture, a stunning cedar structure that stands proudly on the shoreline. This modern longhouse is a hub of Suquamish life—a place for ceremony, celebration, and gathering. Guests step inside to the pulse of ongoing culture. Your guide offers insight into the building’s significance, the art that adorns the interior and the ways traditional spaces continue to shape modern tribal identity. It is in the House of Awakened Culture that you enjoy a delicious salmon lunch.
Old man house
Just beyond lies the site of Old Man House, the largest longhouse in the Salish Sea before it was destroyed by the U.S. government in the 1800s. Though the structure is gone, the spirit of the place remains. Standing on its footprint, guests learn about the social, ceremonial, and political role it played for the Suquamish people for centuries. The guide speaks not just of what was lost, but of what endures—language, community, and a deep spiritual relationship with the land.
Suquamish Seafoods Tour
Next stop: Suquamish Seafoods. This tribally owned enterprise is more than a seafood supplier—it's a vital expression of cultural sovereignty and ecological stewardship. Here, bus tour guests get a glimpse into the harvesting practices that have sustained the Suquamish for generations. Learn how oysters, geoduck, and clams are cultivated and harvested.
suquamish museum guided tour
The journey culminates back at the Suquamish Museum, a beautiful and thoughtfully designed space that houses a remarkable collection of artifacts, art, and historical exhibits. But this is no dusty archive—every object has a story. The guided tour of the museum’s exhibits offers intimate insights into Suquamish lifeways, from ancient fishing technologies to contemporary art that bridges past and present.
Your guide explains the intricate artwork, the carving traditions, the spiritual tools and everyday items with reverence and depth.
Whether you’re a Seattle local looking for a new day trip, a traveler staying in Kitsap for the weekend, or a visitor from farther afield with an eye for authentic cultural experiences, this tour is a must-do. It runs Friday through the summer and fall, and advanced reservations are needed.
Come ready to listen. Come ready to learn. Come ready to be transformed by the stories, landscapes, and resilient spirit of the Suquamish people.