Museums Washington History
C

Browse Museums

Cascade Rail Foundation
South Cle Elum, Washington

Archaeology, History, Specialized

The Cascade Rail Foundation began as The Friends of the South Cle Elum Depot in 1999. Our mission was to help to preserve this historic site and work with State Parks to develop it into a place were the public could come to see and learn of the history of the Milwaukee Railroad. We are located on the John Wayne Trail, the original rail bed of the Milwaukee Railroad. The trail is just over 110 miles in length and is a Washington State Park. Our site specifically consists of twelve acres.
We have worked with Parks to completely rehabilitate the dilapidated Depot, built in 1909, returning it to the beautiful building it once was. Nearly $1,000,000.00 has been spent in the effort with about twenty-five percent coming from CRF donations and grants.

Center for Columbia River History
Vancouver, Washington

History

The mission of CCRH is to promote the study of the history of the Columbia River Basin. CCRH is dedicated to examining the hidden histories of the Basin and to helping people think about the historical record from different perspectives through creative public history products and direct engagement with Columbia River Basin communities.

Central Washington Agricultural Museum
Union Gap, Washington

History, Science, Specialized

The museum is located within Fullbright Park of Union Gap, Washington, at the base of Ahtanum Ridge. It's park like surroundings are home to multitudes of horse drawn and early mechanical farm machinery and equipment, farmsteads, the Magness Room displaying over 3,000 antique hand tools, the steam engine used to power the Old Naches sawmill, a collection of bells from the valley schools, a working sawmill, blacksmith shop, apple packing line and the home of the Lindeman Tractor. All of this and more are combined to create this one of a kind Agricultural Museum, and the largest historical museum in motion in the Pacific Northwest.

Cheney Historical Museum
Cheney, Washington

History, Historic House, Historical Society

The Cheney Historical Museum presents our local history from the time of the first white settlers around 1869 through the growth and development or our region. We have a diverse collection of photos and artifacts of pioneer home life, schools, early farming, the tools of building our communities, and a look at the people and businesses that shaped our towns. Our collection of photographs and archive materials helps researchers of family and regional history.

Clark County Historical Museum
Vancouver, Washington

Culture, History, Historical Society

The Clark County Historical Museum is housed in Vancouver Washington's 1909 Carnegie Library building. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The museum is home to four exhibit galleries that feature a dynamic series of exhibits that change throughout the year. The museum also has a research library and is home to The Brautigan Library collection. The museum collection ranges in date from 1200 AD to 1980.

Columbia River Exhibit of History, Science & Technology
Richland, Washington

History, Science, Specialized

CREHST Museum tells the story of the Manhattan Project, Hanford, and the development of nuclear technology. It also describes the geology, history, habitat and culture of the Columbia Basin.

Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle Archives
Seattle, Washington

History

Center for Puget Sound History and Archaeology
Bellevue, Washington

Archaeology, History

Cheney Cowles Museum
Spokane, Washington

History

Chewelah Museum
Chewelah, Washington

Culture, General, History, Historical Society, Library

A single room of interesting artifacts, displayed at the Chewelah Fun Fair in the summer of 1965 was the beginning of the present spacious museum. The exhibit drew so much interest it was decided to add to it the following year and the idea mushroomed. Walt Goodman and his niece, Dorothy, both interested in local history and historical artifacts, they pooled their ideas to create what became the present museum. From the modest one room start, the building was soon filled with many local items of interest. The people of Chewelah and surrounding areas were cooperative and generous. Many have given valuable family collections to provide interesting and unique items to the display for the public to enjoy. Each year the museum grows.

Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum
Ilwaco, Washington

Culture, History

The Ilwaco Heritage Museum has as its mission the preservation and interpretation of the heritage of the Columbia-Pacific region. By presenting ehibits, both permanent and temporary, and programs reflecting the rich culture of this area, the Museum provides an educational experience for young and old alike. The reserach Library also provides for family research and access to old photos for copying.

MUSEUM CONFERENCES

Georgia Association of Museums 2025 Conference

February 5 - 7, 2025

Milledgeville, Georgia

Georgia Association of Museums 2025 Conference

Wednesday, February 5 - Friday, February 7, 2025

Ina Dillard Russell Library Georgia College & State University

Milledgeville, Georgia

Hosted by: Georgia Association of Museums

The Whole Story Is The Meanin

“For the fiction writer himself the whole story is the meaning, because it is an experience, not an abstraction.”― Flannery O'Connor, Mystery and Manners: Occasional Pros

Join us in Milledgeville, Georgia, for the annual Georgia Association of Museums conference as we explore the profound wisdom of Milledgeville author Flannery O'Connor’s words. In a world where narratives intersect and perspectives diverge, this theme invites proposals that delve into the essence of storytelling within museums and cultural institutions. Our work in the museum field requires us to look at stories from as many angles and perspectives as possible so that we might do our best to tell the “whole story.

Through thought-provoking discussions, interactive workshops, and engaging presentations, we will uncover the layers of meaning embedded within every artifact, exhibition, and historical account. Just as O’Connor masterfully crafted narratives that resonate with universal truths, museums hold the power to illuminate the whole story behind many objects, artworks, and cultural phenomena

We will examine how museums can embrace inclusivity, diversity, and authenticity in their storytelling practices. By acknowledging multiple perspectives and amplifying marginalized voices, we can enrich our understanding of the past and present, fostering empathy and connection within our communities.

Small Museum Association 41st Annual Conference 2025

February 17 - 19, 2025

Gaithersburg, Maryland

Small Museum Association 41st Annual Conference 2025

Monday, February 17 - Wednesday, February 19, 2025

Gaithersburg Marriott Washingtonian Center

Gaithersburg, Maryland

Hosted by: Small Museum Association

The annual SMA conference attracts more than 300 museum professionals, board members, and volunteers from a wide variety of small museums. They attend sessions on topics ranging from collections and education to staffing and board issues.

We offer a large Museum Resource Hall and plenty of informal networking opportunities for you to talk with (and get ideas from!) other small museum professionals and volunteers

Theme for 2025: Make It Happen!!!

Is there an exhibit, program, or fundraiser that you've been talking about doing for years? Do you feel stuck because of procrastination, lack of board support, or insufficient funds? It's time to take action

At SMA 2025, small museum professionals will share their tips and tricks of how they made it happen!

2025 California Association of Museums Conference

February 18 - 22, 2025

San Fransico, California

2025 California Association of Museums Conference

Tuesday, February 18 - Saturday, February 22, 2025

San Fransico, California

Hosted by: California Association of Museums

CAM is hard at work planning for the 2025 conference, set to take place from February 18–22, 2025 in San Francisco. We look forward to highlighting best practices and innovative ideas from California's museum community

The California Association of Museums is excited to continue offering in-person programming for 2025. We will not be requiring proof of COVID vaccination/s, but highly encourage vaccination and boosters. For the health and safety of our colleagues, masks are also encouraged (but not required). Capacity and spaces will be thoughtfully considered in the planning of this event.

For more information, please email [email protected].

Virginia Association of Museum's 2025 Annual Conference!

March 15 - 18, 2025

Blacksburg, Virginia

Virginia Association of Museum's 2025 Annual Conference!

Saturday, March 15 - Tuesday, March 18, 2025

The Inn at Virginia Tech

Blacksburg, Virginia

Hosted by: Virginia Association of Museums

2025 Conference Theme: Looking Back to the Future For the past several years, many museums have been deeply involved in planning programs and events to observe the 250th birthday of the United States of America. While this is certainly an occasion to celebrate, this anniversary also forces us as a society to reckon with ongoing inequities and challenges within the US that go back to its inception. As museums ask their audiences to look to the past to understand the present and shape a better future, perhaps now is a good moment in time for Virginia’s museum community to take pause and look back at its own history. We are excited to see you in Blacksburg in March 2025 as we take a moment in our hectic schedules to take pause and visit our diverse pasts. Let’s uncover and share our histories to build a more resilient Virginia museum community.

2025 Am Assoc for State and Local History Annual Conference

September 10 - 13, 2025

Cincinnati, Ohio

2025 Am Assoc for State and Local History Annual Conference

Wednesday, September 10 - Saturday, September 13, 2025

TBD

Cincinnati, Ohio

Hosted by: American Association for State and Local History

The 2025 AASLH Annual Conference, in partnership with Ohio Local History Alliance, will take place as the history field makes the final preparations to kickoff off the 250th commemoration of the founding of the United States.

The 2025 conference theme, inspired by AASLH’s Making History at 250: The Field Guide for Semiquincentennial, is an opportunity to broadly explore one of the guide’s themes, The American Experiment. For many in the American colonies in 1776, independence from Britain represented a “leap into the dark” into an unknown future

We are excited for you to join us in Cincinnati as we encourage discussion about our democracy and civic institutions and how they can help strengthen understanding, inspire action, and reveal ways that all of us can participate in and shape the ongoing American experiment.

For more information, please call 615-320-3203 or email [email protected].

view all conferences
RECENT UPDATES

Museums

03/07 Pointe Coupee Parish Museum

New Roads, Louisiana

03/07 Uintah County Heritage Museum

Vernal, Utah

Museum Vendors

03/07 Digiscura

Encino, California

Museum Associations

03/07 Public Lands Alliance

Washington, District of Columbia

03/07 Oregon Museums Association

Portland, Oregon

03/07 Virginia Association of Museums

Richmond, Virginia

03/07 American Association for State and Local History

Nashville, Tennessee

03/07 Small Museum Association

Dover, Delaware