Poulsbo Rotary Club Peace Pole Project
“Every part of this soil is sacred in the estimation of my people. Every hillside, every valley, every plain and grove, has been hallowed by some sad or happy event in days long vanished.”
Chief Seattle 1854
Land Acknowledgment
We would like to begin by acknowledging that the land on which we gather is within the ancestral territory of the suq̀ʷabš “People of Clear Salt Water” (Suquamish People). Expert fisherman, canoe builders and basket weavers, the suq̀ʷabš live in harmony with the lands and waterways along Washington’s Central Salish Sea as they have for thousands of years. Here, the suq̀ʷabš live and protect the land and waters of their ancestors for future generations as promised by the Point Elliott Treaty of 1855.
Planting the Poulsbo Peace Pole
Bryce and Tony of Treebeard Woodworks planted the Poulsbo Peace Pole at Waterfront Park in September 2026.
About the Peace Pole Project
At the Rotary International District 5020 Conference in May, 2023, a brand new member of the Poulsbo Rotary Club was inspired by Rotary International’s commitment to global peacebuilding as one of RI’s Seven Areas of Focus. Although the concept of global peace felt daunting, Laurie Cameron knew that small actions could add up to big results. As she researched different ways to promote peace in her own community, the idea of planting a Peace Pole in Poulsbo was born. In mid 2024, Laurie, along with fellow club members who felt drawn to the project, formed an ad hoc committee to transform this idea into a reality.
Even though there are companies who make Peace Poles and sell them online, the committee decided to use local businesses to design a custom-built monument to Peace in Poulsbo. After many conversations with city officials, scheduling delays, funding glitches* and other logistical challenges, Laurie and co-chair Andrey Dombrowski saw the finished Peace Pole planted in Waterfront Park in Poulsbo, Washington, on September 17, 2026.
Be part of something bigger than any of us can create on our own.
Thank you for your help with the ongoing maintenance of our Peace Pole and future peace building projects!
Thank you for your support and expertise:
- Ed Stern
Poulsbo Mayor - Becky Erickson
Former Poulsbo Mayor - Poulsbo City Council
- Poulsbo Parks and Recreation
- The Suquamish Tribe
- Ben Rogers
Treebeard Woodworks - Susan Collins
Sound Reprographics
*This Peace Pole is a gift to the City of Poulsbo from the Rotary Club of Poulsbo-North Kitsap. No city or outside funds were used.
Peace Poles Around the World
History of Peace Poles
The Peace Pole project was started in Japan by Masahisa Goi (1916-1980). After witnessing the devastation caused by the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in WWII, Goi dedicated himself to the attainment of global peace and harmony.
The message, May Peace Prevail on Earth, came to him in 1955 and peace poles with this message began to appear across Japan. It’s estimated there are currently over registered 200,000 peace poles around the world, with the message in different languages.
