The exhibit tells the story of Longfellow Creek – its headwaters at Roxhill Bog near Westwood Village, meeting the Duwamish underneath Nucor Steel.

Our opening reception is on Thursday, June 22 2023 from 6:30-8:30pm and includes photographer Tom Reese (Once and Future River, Seattle Times), Sharon Leishman (Duwamish Alive Coalition), Caroline Boresnik (Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association). The exhibit includes a diary component so we can capture and preserve the human history of this ancient creek.

The Log House Museum, and our exhibit, is open Fridays and Saturdays, 12-4 pm.

tʔáwi: Creek of Hope opens at the Southwest Seattle Historical Society on June 22!

The Southwest Seattle Historical Society in partnership with the Duwamish Alive Coalition and Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association presents tʔáwi: Creek of Hope, an exploration of Longfellow Creek, featuring photographs from renowned photojournalist Tom Reese.

From its 10,000 year-old headwaters at Roxhill Park, Longfellow Creek is the backbone of the Duwamish Peninsula. Its story reflects the complex changes of the region over the last century. Discover little-known places along the creek, human and wildlife connections, and the questions we face about its future.

Tom Reese is a journalist, photographer, author, editor, artist and teacher. His work as a newspaper and magazine photojournalist has been nominated for Pulitzer Prizes in breaking news photography, feature photography and explanatory reporting during his career at The Seattle Times. Many current projects focus on the complex relationship between humans and the rest of the natural world, including his book, Once and Future River: Reclaiming the Duwamish.

An Opening Reception with Tom Reese, Susan Leishman (DAC) and Caroline Boresnik (DNDA) will be held at the Log House Museum on Thursday June 22 from 6:30-8pm. The reception is your opportunity to hear from the exhibit’s photographer and advocates who are working to restore and preserve Longfellow Creek. Light Refreshments will be provided. RSVP is encouraged, but not required. RSVP here.

The exhibit is part of a larger effort by organizers to preserve the history of the creek. The Longfellow Creek Diary Project seeks to capture the personal stories of the creek in a community diary. Past experiences, current activities or special memories of the creek all help tell the tapestry of Longfellow’s story. Diary entries will live in SWSHS’s collection, accessible to future researchers and ecologists.

This project is supported by 4Culture and the Office of Arts and Culture.