Cultural History

Bainbridge Island’s diverse cultural history plays a key role in the educational programs offered at IslandWood. From the native tribes that originated in this area to the Japanese settlers of the late 1800s, to the vibrant communities and traditions that continue to flourish, the site’s history unfolds into a mosaic of work, play, culture, and community. Students and visitors, young and old, explore and experience the area’s rich past though the streams, hills, woodlands, and wetlands that surround the Center today.

Honoring an Elder, Vi Hilbert: IslandWood’s House Post Dedication
The Lushootseed of Puget Sound
The Port Blakely Mill
Japanese History and Community

Bainbridge Island Cultural History Series

When visitors arrive on the IslandWood campus, they learn things that orient them to the "ABC's of the environment,"or the abiotic, biotic and cultural forces that work together to create an ecosystem.  Our cultural history films explore the diversity of people who have interacted with the land IslandWood now inhabits.  As viewers explore their own cultural identities, they learn a sense of stewardship for others and the world in which they live.