The Suquamish Tribe of Washington dedicated a community center to replace the home of Chief Seattle.

Federal authorities burned down Old Man House after Seattle's death in 1870. The site became a state park that was transferred to tribal control in 2004.

The tribe then began a campaign to rebuild Seattle's home. The new 13,169-square-foot House of Awakened Culture will serve as a long house and gathering place for the community.

“It’s been a long, long time since we’ve had a home to call our own,” said tribal member Marilyn Wandery at a ceremony on Tuesday, The North Kitsap Herald reported. “It’s the dreams of our ancestors, our people to have our own place to be who we were meant to be.”

Get the Story:
Suquamish celebrate tradition, culture with opening of Old Man House (The North Kitsap Herald 3/19)
Suquamish tribe debuts community house (Indian Country Today 3/20)

Related Stories:
Editorial: A long homecoming for Suquamish Tribe (3/24)
Suquamish Tribe celebrates Chief Seattle Days (8/22)
Washington state returns one acre to Suquamish Tribe (07/01)
Washington returns state park to Suquamish Tribe (08/13)
Editorial: Return state park to Suquamish Tribe (8/11)
Decision on returning state park to tribe awaited (08/02)
Decision near on returning park to Suquamish Tribe (06/14)
Opinion: Support return of land to Suquamish Tribe (01/08)
Suquamish Tribe wants to manage state park (11/17)
Non-Indians oppose tribal control of Wash. park (07/16)