Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture [WA]

Description

The Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture presents exhibits and information of cultural, historical, and/or artistic note. Collections include more than 68,000 artifacts from Europe, Asia, and both North and South America. Artifacts are of regional historical interest, works of art, and/or related to Native American populations. In addition to these exhibits, the museum operates the Campbell House which interprets daily life circa 1900.

The museum offers exhibits, period rooms, an activity area, activities to be completed throughout the museum, summer camps, thematic tours, traveling trunks, educator's workshops, public lectures, and a small restaurant. Wheelchairs are available. Advance registration of group visitation is appreciated, and appointments are necessary for research library and/or archival access. The website offers teacher resources and podcasts.

Due to financial necessity, the Campbell House is no longer open to the public. School groups may still schedule tours of the building.

Fort Flagler State Park [WA]

Description

Fort Flagler was built in the 1890s in order to guard the entrance to the Puget Sound. Decommissioned in 1953, the fort now serves as a state park and houses a military museum.

The fort offers five miles of hiking trails, guided tours, exhibits in the museum, and occasional special events. The website offers visitor information and a brief history of the fort.

Washington Trust for Historic Preservation [WA]

Description

The Washington Trust for Historic Preservation is first and foremost an advocacy group which works with state authorities to aid the preservation of historic buildings and structures in Washington. However, the trust also offers tours of the trust's landmark headquarters, the Stimson-Greeen Mansion, and the society's other historic property, the Dearborn House.

The website offers visitor information, as well as information regarding the programs offered by the trust.

Edmonds Historical Museum [WA]

Description

The Edmonds Historical Museum is located in Edmonds, Washington, just north of Seattle. The museum hosts a variety of exhibits on local history, as well as a historical archives and photo archive.

The museum offers exhibits on local history, guided tours, and occasional special events. The website offers visitor information, and a brief history of Edwards-South Snohomish county.

The Polson Museum [WA]

Description

The Polson Museum seeks to preserve and share the history of Grays Harbor, Washington. The museum is housed in a 1926 26-room mansion—with 17 rooms housing exhibits. Also on-site is a replic of the Polson Logging Company blacksmith shop, which contains tools original to the location. Collection highlights include more than 2,500 historic photographs.

The museum offers exhibits.

Issaquah Historical Society [WA]

Description

The Issaquah Historical Society seeks to preserve and share the history of Issaquah, Washington and its immediate surroundings. The society operates two museums, the Gilman Town Hall Museum, which focuses on Issaquah history, and the Issaquah Depot Museum, which displays local railway history. The Gilman Town Hall Museum includes the 1914 town jail cells; research center; and a wide selection of artifacts, including an early water pipe, a Native American fur trade knife, and historical graffiti. The structure started as the town hall in the 1890s. The depot museum collections include a vintage caboose, railroad cars, and historical photographs; and is housed in an 1888 railway depot.

The Gilman Town Hall Museum offers exhibits and guided tours by appointment. The Issaquah Depot Museum offers exhibits and guided tours by appointment. A corresponding depot activity booklet can be downloaded from the website. The society offers educational kits for elementary education, which include appropriate lesson plans.

Working Waterfront Maritime Museum [WA]

Description

The Working Waterfront Maritime Museum, housed in the last intact remaining timber frame warehouse section in the area, presents the history of Tacoma's working waterfront. Collections include Andrew Foss rowboats, Willits canoes, and photographs by maritime photographer Wilhelm Hester (born 1872).

The museum offers interactive exhibits and group tours, which can be customized to account for group interests. Reservations are required for group tours.

Washington State Capital Museum and Outreach Center

Description

The Washington State Capital Museum and Outreach Center is located in the historic Lord Mansion (built 1923 as a Spanish Colonial style villa), and is dedicated to preserving and interpreting the history and culture of Washington. Topics covered include regional Native American history and Olympia as Washington's capital. The Delbert McBride Ethnobotanical Garden, located on the grounds of the museum, displays a selection of Northwest flowers, shrubs, and trees that have been used for food, tools, and medicine by the Native American tribes in Western Washington.

The museum offers exhibits, a garden, lecture series, guided tours, exhibit enrichment classes taught by professional artists and historians, and a traveling trunk.