Chinook Scenic Byway
History and Prehistory on the Chinook Scenic Byway

A glimpse into the Seattle region's rich prehistoric and historic past can be found in abundance along the Chinook Scenic Byway in Washington. Real links to the past still exist, which historians, archaeologists, and byway travelers alike find fascinating and intriguing.

Not long ago it was generally believed that prehistoric Native Americans seldom used Mount Rainier's majestic landscape. However, recent archaeological discoveries have documented that for at least 3,400 years, tribal people have journeyed to the upper elevations on the mountain in the summer and early fall to hunt and gather berries, medicinal plants and other resources for use throughout the year.

Today, six principal Native American tribes continue to exercise their treaty rights in Mt. Rainier National Park and maintain their traditional uses of the park landscape. These tribes are the Nisqually, the Puyallup, the Muckleshoot, the Yakama, the Cowlitz, and the Taidnapam.

Historic sites prevalent along the byway include the remains of 19th Century mining and logging camps and sites. The historic Naches Trail followed this route over the Cascade Mountains, and Mt. Rainier National Park itself is a designated National Historic Landmark. By retaining most of the massive log and glacial boulder facilities built during its historic period, the park portrays an impressive rustic architectural style and exemplifies that special “sense of place” quality that makes national parks a distinctive part of the American landscape.

Find your own adventures on the Chinook Scenic Byway by learning about the cultural landscape, Native American uses, and the historic landscape through national park facilities and tribal cultural centers. Remember: imagining the history at any archaeological or historical site is permitted, but digging or disturbing it is not! State and Federal laws and fines protect sites from vandalism or removal of any item.

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