Washington State Historical Society

10/16/2026

Our thanks to everyone for joining us for our third commemoration of Filipino American History Month, organized by our partners at the Filipino American National Historical Society- Greater Puget Sound Chapter.

10/01/2026

09/25/2026

Did you know that the Washington State History Museum is celebrating our 30th anniversary this year?

While the Washington State Historical Society was founded back in 1891, the museum was opened in 1996 after five years of construction following the vision of architect Charles Moore.

In addition to our exhibition “Thirty Years and Counting: The Making of the Washington State History Museum,” currently on view until November 15, we’re hosting a special panel discussion on Thursday, October 1, 2026, from 5:00 – 8:00 PM featuring the people whose vision, effort, and community spirit brought this iconic Tacoma landmark to life!

Moderated by Michael Sullivan, the conversation will feature panelists including former director David Nicandri, museum architect Arthur Andersson, and historians Redmond Barnett, Kathryn Van Wagenen, and Brian Ebersole.

Find out more about how the Washington State History Museum came to be and then check out the exhibition to go behind the scenes of the museum’s construction and bold design.

Panel discussion included with admission: https://bit.ly/wshm30

09/25/2026

Come celebrate Filipino American history next month at the Washington State History Museum!

Explore and connect with community organizations and vendors, enjoy performances, demonstrations, and more at the 3rd Annual Filipino American History Month Commemoration on Thursday, October 15, during FREE Third Thursdays at the Washington State History Museum.

Presented by Filipino American National Historical Society- Greater Puget Sound Chapter, this year’s program explores the important role of land in shaping generations of Filipino and Filipino American life in Washington state.

The program is part of Washington State: America's 250th “We the People Lecture Series,” presented in partnership with local cultural and heritage organizations as Washington commemorates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

More info: https://bit.ly/4xzgwuA

09/23/2026

The Washington State History Museum is looking for a finance leader to help guide our agency through a major statewide financial systems transition!

As the Finance Lead Worker for the OneWA Project, you’ll serve as WSHS’s financial subject matter expert as we transition from the Agency Financial Reporting System (AFRS) to Workday. You’ll help map and transition financial data and business processes, coordinate testing and implementation, and work across finance, IT, and other WSHS teams—as well as with the statewide OneWA project team and implementation partners.

Position duration: Expected through June 30, 2027, with possibility of extension through March 2029. The salary range is $6,075–$8,172 monthly, with a Flexible/Hybrid schedule Monday–Friday, 8 AM–5

If you have advanced financial analysis experience and want to play a key role in a major transformation of Washington State government financial systems, we’d love to hear from you!

https://bit.ly/4cP4gOi

09/23/2026

Looking for a reason to attend this year's Pacific Northwest History Conference? If you're a history or civics teacher, librarian, or really... anyone looking for engaging ways to bring our state’s history to life, check out this session hosted by HistoryLink.org!

HistoryLink has a new website designed by and for Washington state history and civics teachers.

Join this session to hear about how the resource was developed and learn its many features. You'll leave with fresh ideas and practical tools for making Washington state history more meaningful, engaging, and relevant for your students.

Presented by the Washington State Historical Society and Washington State Council for the Social Studies in partnership with the Oregon Historical Society, this year's conference takes place in Spokane from October 8–10, 2026.

Learn more at https://bit.ly/pnwhc2026!

09/14/2026

Not a replica…not a photograph…but a chance to see the ACTUAL Washington State original 1889 Constitution!

For one day only, the document that made Washington a state is leaving its vault.

On September 17, you can see Washington’s original 1889 Constitution (normally kept in a climate-controlled vault at the Washington State Archives), signed by the delegates who paved the way for Washington statehood.

September 17 from 1–7 PM, admission is FREE for Third Thursday.

Presented by the WA Secretary of State and the Washington State Archives, this special event is part of Washington State: America's 250th's celebrations and honors the Day of Civic Engagement. This event is made possible thanks to the generous support of Pfau Cochran Vertetis Amala PLLC.

https://bit.ly/constitution-history

09/14/2026

Forget laptops, tablets, and phones.

09/14/2026

During this week in Washington (Sept. 20, 1940), a star was born when a three-year-old Tacoma girl danced in a vaudeville variety show at the Capitol Theater in Olympia. Mary Eleanor Donahue, later Elinor Donahue, immediately won the attention of talent scouts and built a career in movies and television spanning six decades.

Viewers will remember her best as Betty Anderson in the iconic sitcom “Father Knows Best,” starring Robert Young. Praised for “her wholesome warmth, and realistic youthful spirit,” Donahue played Young’s oldest daughter for six seasons. When that show ended, she signed a three-year deal to play the girlfriend of Andy Griffith in the “Andy Griffith Show.” Surprisingly, Donahue opted out of her contract after a year citing “chemistry” issues with the show’s star.

Her departure did not stall her career. Over the next several years, she secured supporting roles in “The Flying Nun,” alongside Sally Field, “The Odd Couple” with Tony Randall, and “Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman,” starring Jane Seymour.

Post written courtesy of David J Jepsen - Historian

Image: Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

09/08/2026

Did you know that Washington’s Whitman County has been the nation's leading wheat-producing county for nearly 50 years in a row? Over one-third of its acreage is used for wheat farming, a practice in the Palouse Region since the 1870s. The region's ideal nutrient-rich soil, water retention, and natural rainfall have helped produce around 30 million bushels of wheat annually.

The photograph taken by Asahel Curtis in 1915 shows wheat farmers in Rosalia, Washington, using teams of horses to drag heavy machinery across the steep, rolling hills of the Palouse.

Asahel Curtis was one of the Northwest's most prolific photographers, documenting an unfiltered view of life in our region. Please consider making a gift to help our goal of making the Asahel Curtis Collection of 40,000 images available in its entirety, freely accessible to all, through full digitization. https://bit.ly/CurtisCollection

Image from WSHS collection: Wheat binders in field. Rosalia, WA. Photo by Asahel Curtis. Creation date: August 1916. Catalog ID: 1943.42.35313.