In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Washington State Historical Society closed the History Museum and Research Center in mid-March 2020. With permission from the Office of the Governor, the Washington State History Museum reopened on April 2, 2021.
Visitors ages 5 and above are required to wear masks while in the museum and observe social distancing between cohorts. The museum is operating at reduced occupancy, however thanks to the generous size of our building, we can accommodate 400 people under the current guidelines. Timed tickets are not required. We request that you purchase admission using a credit or debit card (cash will not be accepted at this time).
WSHS members get free admission, and can download digital membership cards to their smartphones. Contact Kendall.Hurley@wshs.wa.gov for more information.
The Research Center will remain closed until further notice.
Staff are available by phone and email (please see our contact list).
Stay connected with virtual programs, the WA State History Museum App, downloadable curriculum, and more.
- Download resources for preschool and K-12 students who are learning at home on our History at Home page, and find additional curriculum here.
- Explore artifacts, exhibits and learning activities through the WA State History Museum’s free app.
- Look through the Historical Society’s collections in an online database: In the search field, type in your object or subject of interest (baskets or logging, for example) and see what comes up!
- Join in our live virtual Washington Stay Home Society programs! They’re free and our speakers often include a follow-along make-at-home project.
- Dive into a digital library of articles about the rich history of the Pacific Northwest in the archives of our award-winning popular history magazine, COLUMBIA.
- Tune into Columbia Conversations to hear interviews with historians from around Washington and the Old Oregon Territory.
- Contribute your COVID-19 story to our collections. Help document this historic event with digital images, ephemera or objects. Click here for more information, and thank you!
- Heritage and cultural organizations: We have a list of resources for you, and join us for Common Concerns live online conversations. Email allison.campbell@wshs.wa.gov to get on the Common Concerns email list.
Our Thanks
We are grateful to our program partners, teachers and constituents and we look forward to continuing to engage our communities both online and in the museum.
Our heartfelt gratitude to all of the healthcare professionals, front-line and essential services workers who have worked throughout the pandemic to provide necessary services and resources. Our thoughts and caring extend to all those who continue to suffer.
What You Can Do
We can all help by following the CDC’s steps to prevent illness. For more information about containment practices and updates, please see: