WSHM from the Chihuly Bridge of Glass Native American beaded bags and beads color block Children enjoying the History Lab Time Connector The History Museum and the Museum of Glass color block Salish weavers in the Hall of History

Events and Programs

Model Railroad Operators' Hours

First Saturday of every month, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

A model train passes over a bridge in the History Museum's model railroad display, the largest permanent model train display in the state. (Washington State Historical Society)

The Puget Sound Model Railroad Engineers (PSMRE), the all-volunteer organization which operates the History Museum's permanent model railroad exhibit, holds a special Operators' Hours on the first Saturday of every month. Operators' Hours is an opportunity to watch the masters at work and ask questions of the model railroad experts!

Using a fast clock (a clock six-times faster than normal) PSMRE members operate the trains according to schedules followed by Northern Pacific, Great Northern, Union Pacific and Milwaukee Railroad companies in Tacoma in the 1950s. Each train is operated by a conductor, with a dispatcher on radio in another room to control the mainline. See priority passenger and scheduled freight trains, as well as local freights, and train make-up and break-down in the yards.


In the Spirit: Contemporary Northwest Native Arts Exhibit Opening

July 16 @ 5 p.m.

FREE

Join the festivities as we open the fourth annual In the Spirit: Contemporary Northwest Native Arts Exhibit. Enjoy a performance by the Puyallup Tribe's Grandview Early Learning Center Children and poetry from Suzan Shown Harjo of the Morning Star Institute. A brief awards ceremony and a blessing mark the opening of this exhibit. Vote for your favorite artwork while viewing the exhibit; the winner will be announced at the Northwest Native Arts Market & Festival August 9.


Four Points of Washington State

Through August 1

The Washington State Historical Society is accepting digital photography submissions for Four Points of Washington State. Each submission is to consist of a set of four different views, all taken from the same location. Accepted submissions will be on display starting in September in the Four Points online gallery at WashingtonHistory.org.

Entries must be submitted before August 1. As contemporary examples of digital photography, images should be taken no earlier than January 1, 2009. Each image should be at least 4" x 6" at 300 dpi resolution in uncompressed TIFF or JPEG file formats. All accepted submissions become the property of the Washington State Historical Society, with no restrictions on usage. Each image displayed in the online gallery will be credited to its photographer. Images with rights restrictions will not be accepted. The Society does not pay any fees for images received as part of the Four Points project, and reserves the right to reject any content deemed unsuitable for our public audiences or not in keeping with the Four Points theme.

For more information, please contact Fred Poyner IV, digital assets manager, at (253) 798-5911, fpoyner@wshs.wa.gov


In the Spirit: Northwest Native Arts Market & Festival

August 8, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
August 9, noon - 5 p.m.

Photo from the 2008 In the Spirit Northwest Native Arts Market & Festival. (Washington State Historical Society)

In the Spirit will culminate with a two-day Northwest Native arts market and festival, in the History Museum’s Boeing Outdoor Amphitheater and Plaza. Check out a variety of products from some of the best Pacific Northwest weavers, printmakers, carvers, bead artists and other artisans. Additionally, visitors can experience Native American culture by taking in live performances by local Native dancers, musicians, and storytellers. Learn more about the 2009 In the Spirit: Northwest Native Arts Market & Festival.





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1911 Pacific Avenue
Tacoma, WA 98402
(253) 272-3500
1-888-BE THERE
(253) 272-9518 Fax
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