“Wishkah” among new ferry name finalists

The Washington State Transportation Commission released the final six suggestions under review for the name of the state’s next new 144-car, hybrid-electric Olympic Class ferry, and Wishkah is among the finalists.

According to the commission, the six names were compiled following the October 8th deadline for submitting ferry naming proposals.

After review, the Commission looked through the eligible proposals and is advancing six finalists for public comment. 

Wishkah was moved forward following the suggestion of Robin Grace McPherson and a campaign via the Name the Ferry Wishkah Facebook page and a Change.org petition.

Residents can review the names and submit their comments via an online comment form

Finalists

Wishkah

Sponsor: Robin Grace McPherson, Citizen, “Ferry Wishkah” Campaign

The Wishkah River runs from the Olympic foothills southward into Grays Harbor at the town of Aberdeen. From the earliest days of the Lower Chehalis people to the heyday of boomtown Aberdeen, the Wishkah has been a vital link between forest and sea that anchors the community.  The Wishkah River was originally crossed by ferry, and the steamer Wishkah Chief served the river and the harbor. 

Stillaguamish

Sponsor: Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians

The Stillaguamish River pours into Port Susan located off of Camano Island in Snohomish County. The Stillaguamish Tribe has a long history of being a nautical, sea-faring culture. Traditional Stillaguamish canoes were used as barges and ferries, even in pre-colonial times. In post-colonial times, Stillaguamish people used these same large canoes to ferry settlers up and down the Stillaguamish River and its surrounding bays, including Captain Vancouver’s crew in the early 1700’s.

Snoqualmie

Sponsor: Snoqualmie Indian Tribe

The Snoqualmie Tribe is located in King County, having a long history in the Puget Sound region and the Snoqualmie Valley. The name “Snoqualmie” can be translated to “the Transformer’s People”. Their long houses were located along the Snoqualmie River with its tributaries serving as the highways used to travel from village to village. Prior to 1827, the use areas for the Snoqualmie people included numerous winter villages along the entire drainage of the Snoqualmie River. 

Enie Marie

Sponsor: Zack Hudgins, Citizen

Chief Seattle’s granddaughter, Mary Ann Talisa Seattle was known as “Enie Marie”. “Enie Marie” Talisa Seattle lived in both the Salish world of her grandfather, and the immigrant Euro-American world of her husband William DeShaw. The newest addition to the Washington State ferry fleet is going to be a hybrid/electric ferry. It will burn both old fossil fuels and will run on clean electricity. It is a link between the past and the next step forward, which this name represents.

Stehekin

Sponsor: David Egelhoff, Citizen

Stehekin is the name of a community, a river, and a valley at the north end of Lake Chelan, accessible primarily by ferry. The name comes from the Salish language family and means “the way through” or “passage”. The name serves to emphasize the importance of water routes to the region. The easiest way in and out of Stehekin is via ferry, just as the ferry system across the Puget Sound aids movement from the many islands, to the peninsulas, to the communities along the shores.

Muckleshoot

Sponsor: Muckleshoot Indian Tribe

The Muckleshoot Tribe has a long history of inhabiting the Puget Sound. The Tribe is composed of descendants of the Native people who inhabited the Duwamish and Upper Puyallup watersheds of central Puget Sound, and is now located southeast of the City of Seattle on a plateau between the White and Green Rivers it the shadow of Mt. Rainier.  The Tribe’s name is derived from the native name for the prairie on which the Muckleshoot Reservation was established. Today, Elliott Bay is one of the Muckleshoot’s usual and accustomed fishing areas.

 

The Commission will select the final ferry name at its meeting on December 14, 2021.

Next Steps & Schedule

  • October 27 – November 30:  Public comment gathered on six finalist names via online comment form.
  • October 27 – November 30: Six finalists names reviewed by Washington State Ferries and the Ferry Advisory Committee Executive Council.
  • October 28 – November 12: The Ferry Riders Opinion Group (FROG) survey panel will receive an online survey to indicate their preferences on the six finalist names. Not a member of the FROG? It’s fast and easy to join here.
  • December 14: Commission selects new ferry name.