Makah Museum

Top choice


Hosted by the Makah Indian Reservation, this museum displays artifacts from one of North America's most significant archaeological finds and is reason enough to make the long drive to Neah Bay. Exposed by tidal erosion in 1970, the 500-year-old Makah village of Ozette proved to be a treasure trove of native history, containing whaling weapons, canoes, spears and combs. Its discovery had a huge impact on contemporary native life, even affecting court rulings on native fishing rights.

The museum's centerpiece is a replica of an old Ozette longhouse. There are lots of other interesting tidbits, such as the fact that the Makah raised a specific breed of dog for its hair, which they used in weaving. Updated LED lights throughout the museum increase the impact of each part of the exhibit. If you have questions about anything in the area, ask: staff are happy to share stories and information.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Cape Flattery

6.01 MILES

The dramatic promontory known as Cape Flattery is the most northwesterly point in the lower 48 states. From the four observation points atop the wild,…

2. Wedding Rocks

16.16 MILES

The most significant group of petroglyphs on the Olympic Peninsula.

3. Carmanah Walbran Provincial Park

20.68 MILES

Home to some of BC's eldest residents, the old-growth spruce and cedar trees in this magnificent but remote park frequently exceed 1000 years of age. With…

4. Juan de Fuca Provincial Park

21.28 MILES

A rough and rugged wilderness swath with a wave-crashing coastline where whales, otters and a multitude of marine life thrives. Old-growth forest,…

5. Olympic National Park (Coastal Strip)

28.79 MILES

This section of Olympic National Park consists of a 73-mile stretch of wilderness along the coast, much of it inaccessible unless you hike your way in…

6. John's Beachcombing Museum

29.41 MILES

All sorts of beach fodder is on display here, from sea glass and a mammoth tooth to airplane engine parts and detritus from the Fukushima disaster in…