Types of canoes on Puget Sound

This work offers a close‑up look at the diverse family of canoes that still glide through Puget Sound’s waters. Drawing on specimens gathered for a museum collection, the authors explain the native Duwamish terminology and even walk listeners through the unusual sound symbols used to capture the local language. Along the way, they place the region’s dugout vessels in the broader context of North Pacific boatbuilding traditions.

The heart of the narrative is a clear, illustrated guide to six distinct canoe models, each defined by the shape of its hull rather than merely its size. From the sea‑ready “war canoe” that stays dry in rough surf to the square‑ended craft built for river poling and salmon spearing, the book reveals how form follows function in indigenous watercraft. Listeners will come away with a richer appreciation of how these expertly crafted boats have shaped daily life, trade, and recreation on the Sound for generations.