The Snoqualmie Tribe, in partnership with Salish Lodge & Spa, celebrated the opening of the newly renovated Snoqualmie Falls sdukwalbixw Gift Shop and Visitor Center last week.
“This is our ancestral territory, and the reopening of the visitor center is an opportunity to provide awareness and a deeper historical, cultural understanding of the meaning of the Snoqualmie Falls to the Snoqualmie people,” said Robert de los Angeles, Tribal chairman for the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe, in a release.
The new visitor center highlights the history, spiritual practice, and identity of the Snoqualmie Tribe through education and cultural resources and displays artwork by Snoqualmie artists. An informational installation featuring a timeline wall and a small theater educate visitors about the origin and story of the Snoqualmie Tribe through a celebration of the land, culture, and people.
“This means so much for the Tribal members and our future generations," de los Angeles added in the release. "We need to make sure that we continue to make this space sacred for visitors and we hope each of the 2.5 million visitors per year that visit the mystical powers of Snoqualmie Falls understand that there is a Snoqualmie Tribe, and an understanding of our people — the people of the moon.”
In addition to education and artwork created by members of the Snoqualmie Tribe, the visitor center hosts a gift shop with art and goods from minority- and women-owned companies. Fresh pastries and ice cream by the scoop are also available and can be enjoyed in the outdoor space adjacent to the Snoqualmie Falls viewing area.
The Salish Lodge & Spa continues under the operation of Columbia Hospitality.
“Salish Lodge is one of the most iconic and beloved destinations in the Northwest, and we are honored to continue building on its legacy with the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe," Columbia Hospitality Inc. founder and CEO John Oppenheimer said in the release.
The Snoqualmie Falls sdukwalbixw Gift Shop and Visitor Center is open from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. every day and will expand hours to 9 a.m.-7 p.m. during peak visitor season.
For additional information, visit the Salish Lodge & Spa website here. To learn more about the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe, visit the Snoqualmie Tribe website here.