Explore Nearby Museums
 Updated: 6/2/2012 
Washington State History Museum
Tacoma, Washington
Description

The Washington State History Museum is a 106,000 square foot building, designed by architects Charles W. Moore and Arthur Andersson, that opened to the public in 1996. The use of brick and arches in the building design complements the historic warehouses across Pacific Avenue and neighboring Union Station.

The Great Hall of Washington History is a permanent exhibit featuring over 1,600 artifacts, ephemera and photographs that bring to life the intriguing sights, sounds, people and places of Washington State history, as well as their impact on the country and the world.

The History Lab Learning Center is a permanent exhibit that engages visitors with interactive exhibits featuring such historical concepts as Time, Place, Viewpoint, Exploration, and Precedent. Visitors of all ages can learn to think like a detective and solve a "History Mystery" using historical evidence in this fun, hands-on environment.

The 1,800 square foot permanent model railroad layout, constructed by the Puget Sound Model Railroad Engineers Club, depicts the South Puget Sound area as it appeared in the 1950's during the golden age of railroads.

The museum also features an array of temporary exhibitions that tell stories of national and international significance.

History

The Washington State Historical Society is a non-profit 501 c 3 membership organization, open to any and all individuals, families, or firms. The Society is also recognized in statute (RCW 27.34) as a trustee agency of the state of Washington with enumerated powers.

Founded in 1891 and now into its second century of service, the Washington State Historical Society is dedicated to collecting, preserving and vividly presenting Washington's rich and varied history. The Society is comprised of a family of museums and research centers, offering a variety of services to researchers, historians, scholars and the lifelong learner.

Our mission is to inspire all people to make history a part of their lives by presenting exhibits, programs and publications that bring history alive; collecting materials that reveal stories of Washington and its people; educating students of all ages; encouraging the heritage activities of others; and fostering a sense of identity and community.

Programs
History Lab Learning Center

The History Lab Learning Center engages visitors with interactive exhibits that feature the historical concepts of Time, Place, Viewpoint, Biography, Exploration, Causation, and Precendent. Visitors of all ages are encouraged to use the Tools of the History Trade--such as books, people, maps, and images--to solve a Washington State history mystery.

Family Camp

Every 2nd and 4th Wednesday, from July to September, parents and children can enjoy hands-on activities and games while learning about the past. Family camps run from 11 AM to 12 PM with the option to bring your own brown bag lunch and enjoy the sun in the museum amphitheater afterwards. Free with museum admission.

Facilities
Auditoriums
Lecture Halls
Governance

The Washington State History Museum is governed by the Washington State Historical Society.

Services
Gift Shop
Event Rental
Street Address
Washington State History Museum
1911 Pacific Avenue
Tacoma, WA 98402
Mailing Address
1911 Pacific Avenue
Tacoma, WA 98402
phone: 888-238-4373
fax: 253-272-9518
e-mail: receptionist@wshs.wa.gov
home page: www.washingtonhistory.org/wshm/default.aspx
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Hours of Operation
Summer Hours - May 29th, 2012 through September 2nd, 2012
Daily10 AM - 5 PM

*Extended hours and FREE admission the Third Thursday of every month from 2 - 8 PM

Fall to Spring Hours - September 5th, 2012 through May 26th, 2013
Sunday, Wednesday - Saturday10 AM - 5 PM

*Extended hours and FREE admission the Third Thursday of every month from 2 - 8 PM

Museum Type(s)
Culture
History
Historical Society
Staff
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MUSEUM CONFERENCES

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.

Ohio Museum Asociation 2025 Annual Conference - Athens

March 29 - 31, 2025

Athens, Ohio

Ohio Museum Asociation 2025 Annual Conference - Athens

Saturday, March 29 - Monday, March 31, 2025

TBA

Athens, Ohio

Hosted by: Ohio Museums Association

"Innovation: Museums and Reaching our Potential

The heart of innovation is transformation – shaking up our established way of doing things by introducing new methods, new ideas, and new approaches to both obstacles and opportunities

Museums across Ohio are not just adapting, but innovating to reach their full potential and better serve their communities. No matter their role, museum professionals are introducing forward-thinking perspectives and initiating creative solutions to launch the field into a future where museums can remain trusted and relevant community cornerstones

How can your museum stay true to mission and serve your community in new and meaningful ways? How can we as museum professionals meet the challenges of the future with reinvigorated enthusiasm

Join us in Athens, March 29-31 as we explore these topics and more at the 2025 Ohio Museums Association’s Annual Conference: Innovation: Museums and Reaching our Potential.

For more information, please email oma@ohiohistory.org.

North Carolina Museums Council 2025 Annual Conference

March 30 - 31, 2025

Raleigh, North Carolina

North Carolina Museums Council 2025 Annual Conference

Sunday, March 30 - Monday, March 31, 2025

TBA

Raleigh, North Carolina

Hosted by: North Carolina Museums Council

Museums Unwalled: Expanding Horizon

This theme highlights the importance of museums as dynamic entities that engage with communities, foster education, drive cultural change and often go beyond the building itself. By focusing on areas such as community engagement, digital and virtual presence, interdisciplinary collaborations, sustainability, accessibility, and cultural diversity, we aim to provide a comprehensive and enriching experience for all attendees

The primary objective is to provide a platform for museum professionals and others working in the industry to share ideas, best practices, resources and innovative approaches that demonstrate how museums can reach audiences in and beyond our physical spaces. We aim to inspire attendees to think broadly about the potential of their institutions and to foster a spirit of innovation and community engagement.

By facilitating discussions, workshops, and networking opportunities, the conference will empower current and future museum professionals and to expand their impact, embrace new challenges, and create meaningful connections with their audiences and communities.

Arkansas Museums Association 2025 Conference

March 31 - April 3, 2025

Washington, Arkansas

Arkansas Museums Association 2025 Conference

Monday, March 31 - Thursday, April 3, 2025

Historic Washington State Park

Washington, Arkansas

Hosted by: Arkansas Museums Association

"From the Ground Up: Cultivating Essential Skills in Museums

This year, the AMA conference theme is "From the Ground Up: Cultivating Essential Skills in Museums" As museum professionals we learn and use a wide variety of tools and skills every day

The Arkansas Museums Association is planning its 2025 Annual Conference, which will be hosted by Historic Washington State Park on March 31-April 3, 2025.

The goal of the conference is to support and foster the museum community through a mix of speakers as well as workshops, practical and informative presentations, in-depth discussions, and examples of projects and initiatives that are relevant to museums in Arkansas. Arkansas Museum Association members take ownership in the conference experience as presenters, speakers, panelists, facilitators, and workshop leaders.

For more information, please email arkansasmuseums@gmail.com.

New York Museum Association 2025 Conference in Ithaca, NY

April 5 - 8, 2025

Ithaca, New York

New York Museum Association 2025 Conference in Ithaca, NY

Saturday, April 5 - Tuesday, April 8, 2025

Ithaca Downtown Conference Center

Ithaca, New York

Hosted by: Museum Association of New York

Cultivating Community: Looking In, Reaching Ou

Who are the members of our communities? How can we evaluate our internal structures to help us better understand our organization, define our audiences, and serve our communities? How do we bring all communities together to support our field? How can we support and develop our internal community of staff, volunteers, and board members? How can we advocate for funding that meets operational capacity needs and includes equitable staff support? What changes do we need to make to prioritize the health and well-being of our museum workforce that will support the longevity and sustainability of our institutions and strengthen our ability to build meaningful community relationships

MANY presents conference sessions, workshops, panel discussions, facilitated discussions, and peer-to-peer learning experiences focusing on our 2025 conference theme, Cultivating Community: Looking In, Reaching Out. We will be gathering in Ithaca, in the Southern Tier Region of our state, located on the traditional homelands of the Gayogo̱hó:nǫɁ (the Cayuga Nation)

MANY’s annual conference helps museum professionals build a network to share perspectives, tools, and skills that develop excellence across the field. Our goal is to nurture a community of practice, advance institutional change, and create an inclusive and expansive New York team of collaborators who learn together.

view all conferences
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