Washington State History Museum

Washington State History Museum Treasured artifacts, interactive exhibitions, and captivating storytelling. Explore how history connects us all at the Washington State History Museum!

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Don't miss a rare opportunity to see Washington's original Constitution, the return of Seymour's Kids Club, and more thi...
09/01/2026

Don't miss a rare opportunity to see Washington's original Constitution, the return of Seymour's Kids Club, and more this September! Learn more at www.WashingtonHistory.org

Towering six stories high (with a basement level), his new department store was too ambitious. Located at Fifth and Pine...
08/31/2026

Towering six stories high (with a basement level), his new department store was too ambitious. Located at Fifth and Pine, it was too far from the downtown core. Competitors called it “Frederick’s Folly.” But during this week in Washington (Sept. 3, 1918) D.E. Frederick proved his critics wrong when 25,000 eager shoppers swamped Frederick and Nelson’s new Seattle location on opening day.

Frederick and his first partner, James Mecham, opened the business in 1890. Nels Nelson joined the partnership after Mecham retired. Thanks to railroad connections and the Yukon and Klondike gold rushes, Frederick and Nelson flourished with the rest of the city.

The store redefined shopping. It included a beauty salon, post office, movie theater, medical clinic, and nursery. A tearoom and reading and writing rooms were added later. Shoppers drove downtown just to see the elaborate Christmas window displays and visit Santa. Its elegance defined downtown Seattle until it closed in 1992.

"It was the glamour. It was the sense of prestige. It was the premium department store," Janet Bell told the Seattle Refined newsletter in 2017. “During the 50s, 60s and 70s it was a real amazing spot to shop."

Post written courtesy of David J Jepsen - Historian

Image from WSHS collection: Frederick & Nelson Department Store. Seattle, WA. Postcard. Creation date: ca. 1935. Catalog ID: 2004.0.945.

Storytelling! Historic toys! Piñata-making! Model trains! Seymour’s Kids Club is back for a new season starting Saturday...
08/27/2026

Storytelling! Historic toys! Piñata-making! Model trains!

Seymour’s Kids Club is back for a new season starting Saturday, September 6 with a story reading in the gallery, followed by a fun discussion about the key elements that make a great story—characters, setting, and plot!

Seymour’s Kids Club invites young historians ages 4–10 to learn, create, explore, and get curious about Washington’s history and culture. sparking curiosity through interactive, educational, and seriously fun family programs at the Washington State History Museum.

Here’s what’s coming up this fall and winter:

September 5 — "Tell Me a Story!": Read a story in the gallery, explore what makes a great story, then create your own characters and adventures through painting.

October 3 — "Show and Tell": Bring your favorite toy and discover what children loved to play with in the past. Then make a historic toy to take home!

November 7 — "Piñata-Making Workshop": Join Amano Seattle for a hands-on Día de los Mu***os piñata-making workshop led by Teresa Martinez. Space is limited to 25 participants!

December 5 — "Model Railroading": Take the controls and operate a model train with the National Model Railroad Association and European Train Enthusiasts!

Admission is included with advance registration or general museum admission. Children 5 and under are always free!

Register here: https://bit.ly/4qEq6JM

Whether you work in a museum, classroom, archive, historic site, or simply love Pacific Northwest history, there’s a pla...
08/26/2026

Whether you work in a museum, classroom, archive, historic site, or simply love Pacific Northwest history, there’s a place for you at the Pacific Northwest History Conference!

Presented on by the Washington State Historical Society and Washington State Council for the Social Studies in partnership with the Oregon Historical Society, this year's conference takes place in Spokane from October 8–10, 2026.

Join historians, scholars, museum professionals, educators, archivists, historic preservationists, students, and history enthusiasts from across the region as they share research, perspectives, stories, and best practices—and explore the history that continues to shape our region.

Register here: https://bit.ly/pnwhc2026

08/25/2026

Wilhelm Hester was a Tacoma photographer who took the last image of the doomed crew of Andelana, a ship that sank in Commencement Bay.

“Washingtonians will have the opportunity to connect with a formative piece of their history that they otherwise may not...
08/25/2026

“Washingtonians will have the opportunity to connect with a formative piece of their history that they otherwise may not have had. We want to bring their history to them." - Secretary of State Steve Hobbs.

Don't miss a RARE one-day opportunity to see the original 1889 Constitution of the State of Washington, the document that paved the way for Washington to become the nation’s 42nd state on Thursday, September 17.

Normally preserved in a climate-controlled vault at the Washington State Archives, the Constitution is rarely available for public viewing. And there’s an extra reason to visit: admission is FREE from 3–7 PM for Third Thursdays!

Presented by the WA Secretary of State and Washington State Archives as part of Washington State: America's 250th celebrations and the Day of Civic Engagement. Made possible with generous support from PCVA Attorneys at Law.

https://bit.ly/constitution-history

During this month in Washington (August 1966), a 50-year-old mother from Boston gave outdoor enthusiasts 100 reasons to ...
08/24/2026

During this month in Washington (August 1966), a 50-year-old mother from Boston gave outdoor enthusiasts 100 reasons to explore the state’s great outdoors. Louise B. Marshall, who grew up backpacking in the hills of New England and moved to the Evergreen State in the 1950s, wrote the iconic guidebook 100 Hikes in Western Washington.

What started as a self-published newsletter called Signposts has blossomed into a franchise under Mountaineer Books. Dozens of editions and hundreds of thousands of copies are in print. Conservationists Ira Spring and Harvey Manning would extend the franchise with the 100 Classic Hikes series. Later, Craig Romano updated and rewrote the series beginning in 2005.

Marshall was not involved in subsequent editions for unknown reasons, but she left an indelible mark on the Northwest’s natural resources nonetheless. Her book on the Pacific Cascade Trail has guided hikers from British Columbia to California for decades. She was also a force in conservation and land preservation, preventing development in Olympic National Park and Glacier Peak Wilderness. She was also the first woman to sit on the board of Recreational Equipment Inc.

Post written courtesy of David J Jepsen - Historian

08/21/2026

Don't miss a rare opportunity to view Washington's Original 1889 State Constitution for one day only on September 17 at the Washington State History Museum. Admission is free while the Constitution is on view from 1:00 to 7:00 PM.

Presented by the Office of the Secretary of State and the Washington State Archives, this special event is part of Washington’s America250 celebrations and honors Constitution Day and the Day of Civic Engagement.

Made possible thanks to the generous support of PCVA Attorneys at Law.

Learn more and plan your visit: https://bit.ly/wa-constitution

Third Thursday is TODAY, August 20 from 3 - 8 PM! Celebrate America's 250th and learn about how Washington became a stat...
08/20/2026

Third Thursday is TODAY, August 20 from 3 - 8 PM!

Celebrate America's 250th and learn about how Washington became a state at 'An Experiment: Washington's Version," find out the history of our own museum at "Thirty Years and Counting,' and more.

All for free, and all today! See you there.

https://bit.ly/exhibitsevents

Help support the people behind Washington’s history! The Washington State Historical Society is looking for a Human Reso...
08/20/2026

Help support the people behind Washington’s history!

The Washington State Historical Society is looking for a Human Resources Manager (Human Resources Consultant 4) to join our team.

Reporting to the Executive Director, the HR Manager provides guidance and consultation across the full employee life cycle—from hiring and employee relations to training, professional development, policies, labor relations, and workplace culture.

We’re looking for someone who is trustworthy, approachable, fair, knowledgeable, and committed to helping employees and the organization thrive. This is a key leadership role supporting employees across the agency.

This full-time, permanent role has a salary range of $6,384–$8,583/month. Flexible/hybrid schedule may be available.

Apply by August 24, 2026: https://bit.ly/hr-consultant-4

Address

1911 Pacific Avenue
Tacoma, WA
98402

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 10am - 5pm

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+18882384373

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