Port Townsend in Jefferson County, Washington — The American West (Northwest)

The Unique Coast Salish Design

Coast Salish Canoe Culture

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 1, 2021

1. The Unique Coast Salish Design Marker

Inscription.

Steven C. Brown, in his essay "Vessels of Life: Northwest Coast Dugouts," from The Canoe: A Living Tradition, by John Jennings published in 2002 by Firefly Books wrote: "The Coast Salish canoe incorporates features that make for a successful and seaworthy craft, even though bow and stern do not extend especially far upward. The waterline of the Coast Salish canoe has a narrow entry (at the bow, or stem) and exit (at the aft-slanting stern). The bow features a nearly vertical cutwater that extends up to about half the total height of the bow's peak. At the top of the cutwater, the narrow entry angles abruptly forward, extending out over the water about twice as far as the cutwater is tall. The stern's narrow exit angles back at a steady rate to its peak, where it meets the rising line of the gunwales. From the peak of the stern to the same point at the bow, the gunwales curve down and out in a graceful sheer line. This curve (in all Northwest Coast seagoing canoes) is partly produced by the process of steaming the canoe and widening out the sides for increased width and stability".

"Perhaps the most important feature

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in the design of this hull is the pronounced flare that is carved at the point below the gunwales along their run from bow to stern. This flare is most apparent where the vertical lines of the bow or stern converge with the rising horizontal line of the gunwales. This creates an extremely effective turnout for either approaching waves or a following sea. "The flare serves to lift the canoe over the seas and prevent water from broaching the gunwale and washing over the interior of the vessel."

[Illustration caption reads]
Lines taken by Duane Pasco and Leslie Lincoln. Drawn by Lincoln, 1988.

Erected by Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe and Northwest Maritime Center.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 2002.

Location. 48° 6.967′ N, 122° 45.115′ W. Marker is in Port Townsend, Washington, in Jefferson County. It is on Water Street east of Monroe Street, on the right when traveling east. Marker is in the passageway at the Northwest Maritime Center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address:

Coast Salish Canoe Culture Markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 1, 2021

2. Coast Salish Canoe Culture Markers

431 Water Street, Port Townsend WA 98368, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Olympic Peninsula.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast,

in the Pacific Northwest,

and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The S'Klallams, The Strong People (here, next to this marker); Canoes Were Made Of Locally Available Materials (here, next to this marker); Intertribal Trade (here, next to this marker); Trade With Newcomers (here, next to this marker); InterTribal Canoe Journey (here, next to this marker); Chief Chetzemoka (here, next to this marker); Partnering With The Northwest Maritime Center With A Shared Respect For The Sea (here, next to this marker); Honoring Eleanor Stopps (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Port Townsend.

Also see . . .
1. Coast Salish Canoe Construction. Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe website entry (Submitted on August 13, 2021, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)

2. Northwest Maritime Center.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 1, 2021

3. Coast Salish Canoe Culture Markers

Looking toward Water Street

Website homepage (Submitted on August 13, 2021, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)

3. Black Eagle: A Symbol of Cultural Identity. The Bill Reid Center at Simon Frasier University website entry (Submitted on October 11, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Credits. This page was last revised on October 11, 2022. It was originally submitted on August 13, 2021, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 348 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 13, 2021, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.