| (1) | State Capital
Museum & Outreach Center 211 SW 21st Ave, Olympia (360) 753-2580 |
| Hours: Saturday 10 am - 4 pm Cost: $1 student, $2 adult, $5 family |
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| Located in the historic Lord Mansion, the Museum is a short walk from the Capital Campus. Museum exhibits highlight the history and culture of Washington State in a series of changing displays. Permanent exhibit showcases South Sound Native American history and culture. Museum store, native plant garden and public events are featured throughout the year. School field trips and group tours available by reservation. | |
| Directions: Northbound I-5, take Exit 105; Southbound I-5, take Exit 105-A. Follow sign to State Capital. Turn left onto Capital Way. Turn right onto 21st Avenue. Street and lot parking available. | |
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| (2) | Bigelow House
Museum 918 Glass Avenue NE - Olympia (360) 753-1215 |
| Hours: Saturday & Sunday 12 - 4 pm (Memorial Day to Labor Day) Special tours by appointment Cost: $3 adults, $1 under 18, members free |
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| Built ca. 1860 by pioneer lawyer Daniel R. Bigelow, the House features artifacts from four generations of Bigelow family members who helped shape the history of Olympia as a town and capital city. | |
| Directions: Northbound I-5, take Exit 105; Southbound I-5, take Exit 105-B. Follow signs to Port, which turns into Plum Street. Drive north on Plum, which turns into East Bay Drive past State Avenue. Continue two long blocks and turn right onto Glass Avenue. Museum is mid-block on the left. Street parking available. | |
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| (3) | Crosby House
Museum 703 Deschutes Way SW - Tumwater (360) 943-9884 |
| Hours: Friday & Sunday 1 - 4 pm (Late March to Early November) Special tours by appointment Cost: by donation. Suggested $2 adults, $1 children 12 - 18 yrs., under 12 free |
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| Visit one of the oldest wood-framed houses in the State that dates back to a time when pioneer mills, factories and home clustered around Deschutes River Falls located at the southern end of Puget Sound. Build in 1860 for Nathaniel Crosby III and his bride Cordelia Jane Smith about the time of their marriage, this beautiful house is the sole remaining structure from Tumwater's pioneer period. The Olympia Chapter #4 of Daughters of the Pioneers purchased the house in 1947 and developed it as a house museum. As visitors walk through the Crosby House today, they view Civil War era furnishings donated by local pioneer families as well as interesting fixtures and other antique items. Daughters conduct the tours two days a week from late March to early November. The house is located in the Tumwater Historic District and is listed on the local, state and national registrars of historic places. The Crosby House Museum and grounds are owned and maintained by the City of Tumwater. | |
| Directions: From I-5 Southbound, take Exit 103-Second Avenue. Turn left onto Custer Way SW. Turn right onto Boston St. SE. Turn left onto Deschutes Way SW and follow to end. Museum on left. From I-5 Northbound, take Exit 103-Deschutes Way Sw. Continue on Deschutes to end. Museum on left. | |
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| (5) |
Olympic Flight Museum
Olympia Regional Airport
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Hours: Daily 11 am - 5 pm
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| Museum features a
rotating display of airworthy vintage military aircraft from trainers to
helicopters to jet fighters.
Children enjoy access to static
display aircraft.
Don’t miss the annual Olympic Air Show
every June. |
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| Directions: From
1-5, take Exit 101-Tumwater Blvd.
Travel east to Capitol Blvd
and turn right.
Museum is located ¾ miles on
the right. |
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| (6) |
Lacy Museum 829 ½ Lacey St. – Lacey 360-438-0209 |
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Hours: Thursday & Friday 11am-3pm Saturday 9 am - 5 pm Cost: By donation |
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The Lacey Museum
preserves and interprets community history through exhibits, educational
programs, publications, and research archives.
Tours and presentations are available
by appointment for school classes and other groups. |
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Directions: from I-5,
take Exit 108 and turn onto Martin Way (northbound, turn right;
southbound, turn left).
Turn right on Carpenter road.
Continue on Carpenter Road for a ½
mile to Seventh Street.
Turn right, and continue for two
blocks.
Turn left onto lacey Street.
Continue ahead to the Lacey Women’s
Club on the right.
The Museum is located directly behind
the Club. |
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| (7) |
Joseph Borst Home & One Room Schoolhouse Fort Borst Park – Centralia 360-330-7688 |
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Hours: call for current schedule Cost: $2 adult. $1 under 12, $10
family |
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Experience the Borst Home Museum, built in the
early 1860’s with original furnishings from the Borst family and from
early Centralia history. |
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Directions: From
I-5, take Exit 82.
Head west on Harrison
(northbound, turn left; southbound, turn right).
Turn left on Johnson Road.
Travel past the Middle School
and swimming pool.
Turn right onto Pioneer Way.
Follow signs to the Borst
Home. |
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| (8) |
Veterans Memorial Museum 100 SW Veterans Way – Chehalis 360-740-8875 |
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Hours: Sunday 1 - 5 pm; Tuesday -
Saturday 10 am - 5 pm (June - September) Tuesday - Saturday 10 am - 5 pm
(rest of the year) Cost $5 adult, $3 student or
child under 18 years of age, Members free |
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The museum features personal artifacts dating
from the Revolutionary War to the present that tell an emotional story
of our nation’s veterans and their sacrifices, honor, and legacy of
freedom. |
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Directions: From I-5,
take Exit 77 heading west.
Immediately turn left onto Riverside
Road (frontage road).
Travel about ½ mile.
Turn left onto SW Veterans Way. |
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| (9) |
Lewis County Historical Museum 599 NW Front Way – Chehalis 360-748-0831 |
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Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 10
am - 5 pm; Sunday 1 - 5 pm (Memorial Day weekend - Labor
Day) Tuesday - Friday 10 am - 5
pm; Saturday 10 am - 2 pm (rest of the year) Cost: $4 adult, $3 (ages
60+), $2 (ages 6-17) |
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Housed in the historic 1912 Chehalis
railroad depot, the Museum features exhibits about Chehalis Indian
Culture, pioneer settlement, railroading, and logging industries of
Lewis County, plus a hands-on children’s exhibit. |
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Directions: From
I-5, take Exit 79.
Turn east on Chamber Way
(northbound, turn right; southbound, turn left).
At State Street, turn right.
At West Street, turn left.
Go over two sets of railroad
tracks and turn right into the museum’s parking lot. |
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| (10) |
Tenino
Depot Museum (10) Tenino City Park – Tenino 360-264-4321 |
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Hours: Saturday & Sunday Noon - 4
pm mid-April through mid-October Cost: by donation |
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Housed in a 1914 historic sandstone railroad station, the Museum features a century old wooden money press that served as Tenino’s legal tender during the Great Depression era. Site also included a 1932 one-room schoolhouse and logging and farm display buildings. |
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| Directions: From I-5,
take Exit 88.
Travel east to Tenino.
In Tenino, turn right on
Olympia.
Travel 2 blocks to park
entrance.
Drive past the Quarry House
to the Museum. |
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| (11) |
Winlock Historical Museum 400 N.E. First Street – Winlock 360-785-3980 or 360-785-3636 |
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Hours: April through summer, Wednesday & Friday 12 - 3 pm |
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Also available by appointment. Cost: by donation |
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Housed in the 1912 Fire Hall, museum features an
original jail cell, high school memorabilia including the Margaret Gibbs
collection, veterinary medical equipment, and early settler history and
pictures on display. |
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Directions: From
I-5, take Exit 63 and head west toward Winlock along Hwy 505.
At flashing amber light, turn
right onto First St.
Travel two blocks.
Museum on right across from
City Hall. |
| (12) |
Cowlitz River Valley Historical Society
1910
Morton Train Depot & White Pass Byway Visitor Center |
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194 Main Ave – Morton 360-496-0070 Hours: Saturday & Sunday 12 -
4 pm Or by appointment (April
through October) Cost: $2 adults, $1.50
seniors, students & military, $5 families |
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Located at the gateway to Mt. Rainier and
Mt. St. Helens, visit the Morton Train Depot Museum, star of History
Channel’s Mega Movers show, and see our Native American artifacts,
logging, mining, agricultural, local and geologic history. |
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Directions: from
I-5, take Exit 68.
Heat east on Hwy 12 to Morton
(30 miles).
Turn left on Hwy 7, then turn
right on main Ave. |
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(13) |
Mason County Historical Museum 5th and Railroad Avenue – Shelton (360) 426-1020 |
| Hours: Tuesday – Friday 11 am - 5 pm |
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| Located in the 1914 town hall and library, the
Museum features exhibits and artifacts of early Mason county families,
logging, and sternwheeler ships. |
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| Directions: from
I-5, take Exit 104 onto Hwy 101 north to the Shelton/Port Angeles exit.
Take second exit into Shelton
(Shelton-Matlock) which turns into Railroad Avenue.
Continue to Fifth Street.
Museum located on corner of 5th
and Railroad. |
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(14) |
Squaxin Island Museum, Library & Research Center
150 SE Kwuh-Deegs-Altxw
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| Hours: Wednesday – Saturday 9 am - 5 pm |
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| The Squaxin Island
Tribe tells its own history of its relationship with the Seven Inlets of
the interior Salish Sea.
Museum offers exhibits, cultural and
educational programs, language classes, traditional activities and
research projects. |
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| Directions: From
I-5, take Exit 104 onto Hwy 101 north to the Shelton/Port Angeles exit.
Take the McCleary/Hwy 108
exit and turn right off the ramp.
Proceed uphill for about 1
mile.
Turn left onto
Kwuh-Deegs-Altxw. |
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| (15) |
Yelm Prairie Historical Museum 207 3rd
Street – Yelm 360-458-4114 |
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Hours: Thursday & Friday 1 - 3:30
pm Saturday 11 am - 2 pm Sunday 1 - 3 pm Cost: By donation |
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Museum features
chronological exhibits spanning the Ice Age 12,000 years ago, Nisqually
tribal heritage, early pioneers, pre-1900 Yelm history, Mt. Rainier
climbing pioneers, and Yelm schools.
Current exhibit features the 1924 Fire
that nearly destroyed the town.
New exhibits added periodically. |
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Directions: Go
east on Hwy 507.
Turn right on 3rd
Street.
Museum is on right in the
second block.
It is located across the
street from Emanuel Lutheran Church. |
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(16) |
DuPont Museum 207 Barksdale Ave – DuPont (253) 964-2399 |
| Hours: Wednesday, Friday, Sunday 1 - 4 pm |
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DuPont is home to
several important sites associated with Puget Sound history.
There is the first (1833) and second
(1843) Nisqually Forts, the Wilkes Observatory (1841) and the Nisqually
Methodist Mission (1839). |
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| Directions: From
I-5, take Exit 119. Northbound, cross back over I-5: Southbound, stay to
your right.
Proceed ahead onto Barksdale
Avenue 2/10 mile to Museum (on right).
Parking in front. |
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| (17) |
Lakewood History Museum 6211 Mt. Tacoma Drive SW –
Lakewood 253-682-3480 |
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Hours: Wednesday-Saturday Noon -
4 pm Cost: By donation |
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Located in Lakewood’s
historic Colonial Center, this storefront Museum brings to life Lakewood
area history.
Displays feature an illustrated
timeline of local people and places, maps, historic documents, a
homestead cabin, and a local newspaper and post office.
Please check the Lakewood Historical
Society website or call for details about special events, tours and
programs.
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| Directions: From
I-5, take Exit 125 top Bridgeport Way SW (toward Lakewood City Hall); go
north on Bridgeport Way 1/7
miles; turn west on Mt. Tacoma Dr. SW.
The Museum is about 3 blocks
ahead on the right, across from Columbia Bank. |
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| (18) |
White Pass Country Historical Museum 12990 US Hwy 12, Milepost 131 –
Packwood 360-494-4422, |
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Or for an appointment
360-494-4031 or 360-494-4007 |
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| The White Pass Country Museum is housed in a former grade school building constructed in 1934. The museum displays cover the history of the valley from the underwater town of Kosmos to the summit of White Pass, including information on the impact of the Forest Service and the Park Service on the development of the local area. They include a logging display, an old fashioned school room including photos of area school classes, and Forest Service artifacts. Under construction are an old fashioned parlor and a veterans display. | |
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Directions: look
for the old brick School building located in Packwood at mile marker 131
US Hwy 12, nestled in the Cascade foothills on the edge of the White
Pass Scenic ByWay.
Make a loop: Take the Hwy 12
Exit from I-5, drive east to Packwood.
Visit Mt Rainier National
Park, the Goat Rocks Wilderness, or the Gilford Pinchot National Forest
in just minutes.
Take Hwy 410 up Cayuse Hwy to
Enumclaw, Auburn, and Renton. |
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| (19) |
Wilcox Family Farms Antique Farm Equipment Museum, Fire Hall Museum, and Homestead Chicken Houses |
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40400 Harts Lake Valley Rd. S. 360-458-7774 |
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Hours: Open by appointment only Cost: $5 admission per person, or
a minimum of $50 per group |
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We can offer a very beautiful and unique touring
experience for any occasion by providing the main grounds of our Roy
Farm as a day trip or venue location. Our farm boasts regal
views of Harts Lake Valley and the stunning Mt. Rainier, historic museum
tours that define our 101 year old homestead as well as provide farm
tours of the property.
For athletically inclined individuals
we also offer a hiking trail (1.5 miles) to Horn Creek!
We look forward to seeing you! Directions: Take
Hwy 507 to Hwy 702 and turn right on Harts Lake Valley Road.
Wilcox Family Farms will be
on your right hand side. |
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| (20) | Sand Man
Tugboat Percival Landing - Olympia |
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Hours: Most weekends, year-round |
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| You are cordially invited to come to Olympia and visit the historic Sand Man tugboat. Now fully restored, the tug will celebrate its centennial anniversary in August 2010. Last worked by owner Frank Schlottmann, the boat is now a public exhibit at Percival Landing, where it was moored in its early days. | |
| Directions: From I-5, take Exit 105. Keep left and merge into 14th Ave. Keep straight through the light and into the tunnel. Turn right onto Capital Way on the other side. Follow Capital Way to State Ave, take a left. Bear right onto 4th Ave at the light. Take the next right (Sylvester St). There is street-side parking on the right, the Sand Man is at the dock below. | |
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Local
Historical Societies without a museum facility
Lacey Historical Society: PO
Box 3324, Lacey, WA 98509-3324
Olympia Historical Society;
PO Box 6064, Olympia, WA 98507-6064
Rainier Historical Society:
PO Box 1024, Rainier, WA 98576
Tacoma Historical Society:
PO Box 1865, Tacoma, WA 98401
Tumwater Historical
Association: 360-943-6951; PO Box 4315, Tumwater, WA 98501
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