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Where did the name of Washington’s “Cape Disappointment” and others come from?

From Cape Disappointment to Point No Point, Washington’s got some funny names for its geographical features. But where did these silly — and somewhat depressing — names come from?

The lighthouse at Cape Disappointment sits atop the cliff during golden hour, giving the entire area a golden glow.

We’re certainly not disappointed by the view.

Photo by Bjorn, via Wikimedia Commons

At first pass, it’s hard not to laugh at a place called “Cape Disappointment.” Who would want to go there?

It’s certainly not a name you would give to one of Washington’s most beautiful coastal areas. So was someone feeling dragged down by the PNW’s gloomy weather? Or was it our trademarked sarcastic sense of humor?

Turns out that a lot of these names — given long after local Indigenous tribes had already named their home — were indeed the result of a great amount of wry humor + some inspiration from the state’s tribal populations.

Cape Disappointment

First named Kah’heese by the Chinook Indian Tribe, this southern bay was next dubbed the Cape of Assumption in 1775 by Spanish explorer Bruno Heceta who correctly assumed there was a river mouth in the bay — just to falsely “discover” there was no such river... so close, yet so far. The spot then gained its third name as Cape Disappointment by English trader John Meares who fell to the same false conclusion and felt... well, disappointed.

Useless Bay

Co-opted from “cultus,” which is Chinook trading jargon meaning “worthless,” this Whidbey Island locale got its name for its unfortunately shallow waters. See also: Cultus Bay and Cultus Island.

This photo of Deception Pass shows just how narrow the slot of land is between Whidbey Island and mainland Washington. It looks especially moody here with an overcast sky.

It is a rather narrow channel that makes Whidbey Island just an island.

Photo by SEAtoday Staff

Deception Pass

Originally dubbed Xwchsónges by the Samish Indian Nation, Deception Pass got its newer moniker from cartographer George Vancouver because its geography made him believe that Whidbey Island was actually a peninsula instead of an islanda classic “sike” moment from Mother Nature.

Point No Point

Another very literal name here, the Kitsap Peninsula locale was named as such by US Navy Lt. Charles Wilkes after he noted it only looks to be a prominent spot from afar — like a Monet, perhaps. This spot was originally called Hahd-skus, or long nose, by the First Peoples.

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