In 1976, the Landry Family opened their Smoke Signal Museum to the public. Admission was free. A labor of love, Fred Landry built the lodge-style building from logs salvaged in nearby woods. He painted a Kwakiutl style (British Columbia) sea serpent across the entrance.
Betty Butler, a newspaper columnist for The Daily World wrote; “The project was planned, executed and financed entirely by the Landry family-Fred, a Chippewa Indian; Myrtle, a descendant of tribal chieftains of the Shoalwater Indians, and their son Eugene, a noted Northwest artist. The interior, with beams, posts and exposed rafters of unpeeled logs. Gives the feeling of an Indian longhouse.”
The museum showcased an extensive basket collection, masks, drums, shields and more. There was also a large display of pioneer-era tools, old logging equipment and fishing gear.
