Issaquah History Museums (Out of Many, One display)

The Origins of Issaquah

The exhibit is a photo of the Issaquah train depot c. 1902. “Issaquah” is clearly displayed on the building’s north side and Squak Mountain is seen rising in the background.

How it represents the community’s American experience:

“Issaquah” comes from the Lushootseed word sqʷawx̌, the name the region’s first peoples use for Lake Sammamish. Early Euro‑American settlers adapted the sound into “Squak” and applied it to the valley, the river, and the mountain. Only Squak Mountain still carries that form today. The name Issaquah, seen on this circa 1900 photo of the Depot with Squak Mountain rising behind it, gathers these histories together. It reminds us that this community’s American story is not a single thread but a weaving of many peoples whose ties to this land continue to meet in the name we speak today.

Visit the Issaquah Historic Train Depot Museum, open Saturdays & Sundays, 11 a.m.–3 p.m.