Culture and Arts

1. Request for information on establishing an historical society or museum

   We have not located any cities that have established a historical society directly. Most local historical societies are independent non-profit organizations. Some communities have historical museums as part of city government, including Tumwater, Lacey, Anacortes, Renton, Auburn, Moses Lake, and Wenatchee. These and other cities provide some financial assistance to historical museums and/or historical societies.

   The following are some cities that have historical societies and/or museums that may be worth contacting:

   • Tumwater - Carla Wulfsberg, Henderson House Museum (360-354-4217)
   • Renton - Renton Historical Society - RHS Articles of Incorporation and Other Governance Documents - and Renton Historical Museum - The Museum Supervisor's wages were paid in part by the City of Renton, but the museum and other staff were governed by the board of the historical society (425-255-2330 or 425-255-1570).
   • Lacey Museum - Drew Crooks, Curator (Phone: 360-438-0209; or Jim Sheler, Parks & Recreation Director – 360-488-0209;) Also see Lacey Historical Commission
   • Auburn - White River Valley Museum in Auburn has ties with the City of Auburn - Patricia Cosgrove, Director (253-288-7437)
   • Moses Lake - Terry Mulkey, Adam East Museum and Art Center (509-766-9395)
   • Wenatchee Valley Museum - (509-664-3340; e-mail contact)

   The following historical society and museum Web sites may also be interest:

   • Jefferson County Historical Society
   • Tacoma Historical Society
   • Des Moines Historical Society Articles of Incorporation
   • Kent Historical Society and Museum
   • Cowlitz County Historical Museum
   • Mukilteo Historical Society
   • Monroe Historical Society

   City Codes related to Historical Museums:

   • Bellingham Municipal Code, Ch. 2.39 – Museum
   • Everett Municipal Code, Ch. 2.112 – Museum Board
   • Grandview Municipal Code, Ch. 2.52 – Ray E. Powell Museum

   In addition, the following documents are available on loan from MRSC's Library:

   • Aberdeen Ordinance No. 5289
   • Museum Services Agreement between City of Bellingham and Whatcom County, 1989
   • Sunnyside Resolution No. 2002-11 and Agreement between City of Sunnyside and Sunnyside Museum and Historical Association.

   For literature on historical societies and museums, see the American Association of State and Local History's publications catalog on their Web site. Also take a look at the American Association of Museums Web site.

   You may also be interested in MRSC’s Web pages on Arts Commissions and Historic Preservation.