The Washington State History Research Center provides public access to historical archives, special collections,
digital collections and research library, while also serving as the principal repository for the Society's
artifact collections, special collections, and digital collections.
The special collection includes the following types of resources, relating to Washington state and regional
history: photographs, archives and manuscripts, posters, maps, printed ephemera, books, and finding aids. The
museum collection of artifacts presently numbers over 90,000 items, including artworks, clothing, archaeological
artifacts, ethnographic materials, tools, equipment, and furniture. The digital collection includes electronic
records, documents, digital audio and video files, and digital photography and images.
The Research Center's Hewitt Research Library and Special Collections are open to the general public, via
the special collections reading room on the 3rd floor of the building, by appointment only,
Tuesday-Thursday from 12:30PM to 4:30PM. Additional opportunities for visitor research of Society's Collections
are available via our
Featured Collections,
Collections Highlights,
and
Finding Aids.
Directions to the Washington State History Research Center
From I-5 Southbound:
- Take City Center exit (#133) to the I-705 spur, passing the Tacoma Dome (stay in right lane).
- From I-705, taker the Schuster Parkway exit to the right.
- Continue as described below
From I-5 Northbound:
- Take the City Center exit (#133) to the I-705 spur, stay left.
- From I-705 take the Schuster Parkway exit to the right.
- Continue as described below
Directions continued:
- Remain in the right lane until the I-705 spur ends at Stadium Way, north of downtown.
- Turn right at the traffic light onto N Stadium Way, passing Stadium High School.
- At the first traffic light, turn right onto Tacoma Avenue, and proceed two blocks (going west) to N Third Street.
- Turn right into N Third Street and continue downhill, past the Stadium football bowl.
- The Research Center and lower parking lot are three blocks down on the right.
Access Into the Research Center
- Park in the lower parking lot.
- Proceed up the steps to the main, third floor, public entrance, which fronts Stadium Way.
- Use the outside intercom telephone box (located just outside the front door) to notify the staff of your arrival.
- The outer doors are locked at all times for security purposes.
- Please notify the staff in advance, if you have special needs or access concerns.
- For those visitors requiring handicapped access, there are designated parking spaces in front of the Research Center and wheelchair ramp for access to the front entrance.
- Researchers are required to provide a photo ID at the time of their appointment, and agree to allow a copy to be made as part of the Society's security policy for the collections.
Map of Location
Additional Links
- If you would like to search our Online Collections, please browse the Collections Catalog.
- If you would like to submit a research request, please complete the
Research Request Form.
- If you would like to make a donation to our collection, please complete the
Donation Inquiry Form. A donation is not required to submit a request for research assistance.
- Photographic print and reproduction services are also available through the Research Center.
If you are interested in obtaining prints of any of the many photographs we have in our collections, please see our
Photo Duplication Services and Prices
page.
- For information about volunteer opportunities at the Research Center, please visit our
Volunteer Opportunities page.