Exhibits at Fort Nisqually

Food Preservation of the 19th Century

Preserved in Time is now open! During the 19th century, traders, settlers, and Native peoples relied on a variety of traditional techniques to not only prevent food spoilage but also transform seasonal produce and butchered meats into provisions for use in later months. At the heart of these preservation practices were curing, smoking, brining, and canning—methods that required skill, patience, and an understanding of changing seasons.

This exhibit invites visitors to step back in time and learn how people kept food safe long before the invention of refrigerators and freezers. View artifacts used to prepare and store food at Fort Nisqually 170 years ago, take home a historic recipe to recreate in your own kitchen, and have young visitors craft their own recipes in a fun hands-on activity

The Women of Fort Nisqually

Traveling Exhibit

The women of Fort Nisqually played an important role in the daily activities of the fort. Nearly all of them were métis, originating from the Latin verb miscēre meaning “to mix”, and had both Native American and Euro-American heritage. It was common for métis women to marry within the fur trade — marrying European employees or their métis sons. These women labored for their families and for the Company. Some planted potatoes, washed laundry, and cleaned wool. Others hosted visiting dignitaries.

This exhibit explores the heritage and lives of these women at this early-mid 19th century settlement on the Puget Sound.