The Point Defiance-Tahlequah ferry is a ferry route across Puget Sound

Puget Sound

Puget Sound is a sound in the U.S. state of Washington. It is a complex estuarine system of interconnected marine waterways and basins, with one major and one minor connection to the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Pacific Ocean — Admiralty Inlet being the major connection and...

 between the Point Defiance

Point Defiance

Point Defiance may refer to:* Point Defiance Park in Tacoma, Washington, USA** Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium within the park* USS Point Defiance , a dock landing ship* Point Defiance Elementary School, a school located within Tacoma, Washington...

 ferry terminal in Tacoma and Tahlequah, Washington

Tahlequah, Washington

Tahlequah is an unincorporated community on the southern end of Vashon Island in Puget Sound, Washington state. It is best known for being the north end of the short Point Defiance-Tahlequah ferry route.-References:...

, on the southern tip of Vashon Island

Vashon Island

Vashon is a census-designated place in King County, Washington, United States. It covers an island alternately called Vashon Island or Vashon-Maury Island, the largest island in Puget Sound south of Admiralty Inlet. The population was 10,624 at the 2010 census. At , it is about 60 percent larger...

. Since 1951 the only ferries employed on the route have belonged to the Washington state ferry system

Washington State Ferries

Washington State Ferries is a passenger and automobile ferry service owned and operated by the Washington State Department of Transportation that serves communities on Puget Sound and in the San Juan Islands. It is the most used ferry system in the world and the largest passenger and automobile...

, currently the largest ferry system in the United States. Point Defiance-Tahlequah is the shortest route in the system.

Description

This ferry route is 1.7 miles long, with terminals at Point Defiance Park

Point Defiance Park

Point Defiance Park in Tacoma, Washington is one of the largest urban parks in the United States. The park includes Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, the Rose Garden, Rhododendron Garden, the Camp 6 Logging Museum, beaches, trails, a boardwalk, a boathouse, a Washington State Ferries ferry dock for...

 in Tacoma and, on Vashon Island, at Tahlequah.

History

Until 1967, the wooden ferry Skansonia (capacity: 308 passengers, 32 autos) was regularly assigned to the route. In 1967, Skansonia, built in 1929, was replaced with Hiyu (capacity: 200 passengers, 40 autos), which had been built specifically for the route.

Current status

Assigned to the route as of June 2011 was motor ferry Rhododendron.