Klahowya
April 26, 2025; 11 am-4 pm at Fort Nisqually Living History Museum
Free to all Pierce County residents and members of local First Nations | Purchase Tickets
In 1855, Fort Nisqually was a trading center for people throughout the region and around the world and they greeted each other in the trade language of the time, Chinook Jargon, by saying “Klahowya” or “welcome”.
At Klahowya we welcome guests to join in learning from our historical interpreters and enjoying demonstrations of historic trades which may include woodworking and tinsmithing. Guests will have plenty of family friendly and hands-on activities to choose from, including planting your own seeds to take home, sampling food prepared in the museum’s period kitchen, and meeting and petting sheep from a local farm!
Klahowya is Free to all Pierce County residents and members of local First Nations.
- Free tickets will be available at the gate with your ID.
- For all others, tickets will be available in advance or at the gate.
- Download the program or view a list of available activities by location below.
For more information visit FortNisqually.org or call (253) 404-3970.
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Special Performance at 1 PM
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1 pm in the Yard
Join us for the Drum and Dance Performance from the Chief Leschi Schools at 1:00 pm.
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All Day Activities
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Sale Shop Yard: Learn Chinook Jargon, pick up a scavenger hunt, and check out our book “Klahowya” now for sale! Guided group tours start outside of the Sale Shop at:
- 11:30 am
- 12:30 pm
- 1:30 pm
- 2:30 pm
Granary: Visit the oldest building in Washington state, view an axe handle making demonstration and hear tunes played on tin whistles.
Store No. 2: See the Fort’s blacksmiths at work.
Kid’s Outstation: Play 19th century games.
Yard: Visit with our master Tinsmith, woodworkers, and leatherworkers.
Program Tent: Make your own paper quilt patterns.
Cart Shed: Meet sheep from Blackberry Patch Farms!
Large Store: Visit with community partner, Food is Free. Grab some juice, cookies, and coffee from Valhallah Coffee Roasters!
Laborer’s Dwelling Yard: Learn about the life cycle of wool, try your hand at wool carding and drop spindles!
Factor’s House Porch: Listen to melodies and meet the musicians of the Fort.
Factor’s House Dining Room: Hands-on sewing crafts.
Gardens: Participate in watering the garden, learn about plants and herbs of the 19th century!
Period Kitchen: Visit with the cook and sample 19th century foods.
Factor’s House Yard: Plant your own seeds to take home!
Visitor Center: Museum store and exhibits. Open until 4:00pm.
Parking Lot: Grab food from Starvin Marvin and Legendary Doughnuts Food Trucks!