The former editor of the North Kitsap Herald, Richard Walker has written a new book on the history of Point No Point.

“Point No Point is one of my favorite places on the Kitsap Peninsula,” Walker said. “After moving to North Kitsap in 2011, I was immediately drawn by its natural beauty. I soon learned that although much has changed at Point No Point since the treaty was signed and the light station was established, much remains the same.”

“Images of America: Point No Point” Published by Arcadia Publishing, begins with a look at those who called Point No Point home, long before Charles Wilkes sailed past the area in 1841. Hahd-Skus, meaning “long nose,” was the name given to Point No Point by those who called it home for millennia.

Walker’s book explores the early intersectionality of indigenous people and the Hudson Bay Company as the two traded and follows history into the signing of the Point No Point treaty in 1855. Included are plenty of historical photos of the first peoples, cultural artifacts as well as photos and accounts from some of the first white explorers to navigate the region.

Another focal point — pun intended — of Walker’s book is the establishment of the Point No Point Lighthouse. Constructed in 1879, the Point No Point lighthouse has served as the guiding light for ships entering the Puget Sound ever since its inception — and remains a functional navigational aid for modern sailors as well. Interestingly enough, one of the individuals who served on the US Lighthouse Board, which approved the construction of the Point No Point Lighthouse, Horatio Wright, also built fortifications around Washington DC during the Civil War and commanded the first troops to break through Confederate defenses at Petersburg, Va.

“Point No Point” follows the history of the area up through the collision and sinking of the Admiral Sampson off the shores of Point No Point, onward to the location’s heyday as a destination for anglers seeking Chinook salmon.

“Today, visitors to the point can enjoy many of the same experiences that people have enjoyed here for centuries,” Walker said. “I hope the book will be a useful guide for visitors and will provide for them a broader understanding of this great place.”

“I am indebted to the many sources who opened up their homes, offices, memories and archives to me — and to the many people who actively care for this place,” the author added. “They made the book possible. Any errors in this book are mine.”

“Images of America: Point No Point,” by Richard Walker releases May 6.

Nick Twietmeyer is the editor for the North Kitsap Herald, Central Kitsap Reporter and the Kingston Community News. Nick can be reached at ntwietmeyer@soundpublishing.com.