|
ABOUT US We’re alive with activity! We bring to life the history of Kitsap County’s people. Our artifacts help the visitors see how people lived, worked, and played. We are your partner in preserving our shared heritage. The museum’s exhibits present a window to look at those who went before us. You can explore the history of Kitsap County from the Ice Age to today. Wander through a historic “Main Street,” see a stump farm, or learn that bunkhouses do float! [ top ] HistoryThe Kitsap County Historical Society was established in 1948. In January of that year, a committee was formed, consisting of Ms Chloe Sutton, Mrs. Lulu Haddon, Mrs. Eleanor van Elton, and Mr. A.P. Carroll, with Mr. Elgie Hoffman serving as Director and his wife filling in as his assistant.The Museum was initially housed at the County Courthouse in Port Orchard, and opened to the public in 1949 with a small display of historic items gathered from county citizens. The Museum was open only on Mondays, which was Court Day. The single room was made available for special occasions and for school tours. In 1976 the Museum was able to move to a building of its own, in old town Silverdale. A professional staff was hired and the Museum was open five days a week, providing educational exhibits and research opportunities. The museum collection began to grow, along with Kitsap County’s population. In order to meet the needs of this expansion, the Historical Society purchased a larger building in downtown Bremerton at 280 Fourth Street, in the center of the Arts District in 1996. The Museum is now open 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, (except for on major federal holidays), and is handicapped accessible. On the first Friday of each month the museum is open until 8:00 p.m. for the First Friday Art Walks. Our archives are open by appointment and are used for research by authors, students, government personnel, local citizens and tribal groups. The Historical Society is very proud of its museum, its commitment to education, and its service to the community. Almost monthly, it sponsors events and educational programs open to the public on a variety of interesting topics. Recent programs have included: “Care and Preservation of Family Photos”; “Walking Tour and History of Early Bremerton”; and the debut of an educational traveling history kit on the topic of Japanese Internment. The Museum regularly schedules visits by school and scout groups. Our volunteer program offers a variety of interesting, rewarding, and educational opportunities for people of all ages, including military personnel and their families. Volunteers are invited to become involved in all aspects of the museum, including exhibit planning, artifact care, and educational outreach. In addition, “work experience” opportunities are offered citizens who are seeking employment and need “on the job” experience for their resume. “Kitsap Kits” is an educational program created by the Historical Society and used as a standard by museums throughout the Northwest. Administered by the Olympic Educational Service District 114, the “Kits” offer traveling history to local school children. Developed by the museum staff, the boxes hold artifacts or reproductions of cultural and historical interest and offer students a hands-on experience. Themes are: The History of Trapping and Trading; Kitsap Schools; Early Technology; Quilting; Fossils; Japanese Internment; and four different aspects of Northwest Native American Culture. The “Kits” are used by students in Kitsap, Jefferson, Mason and Clallam Counties, in public, private and home schools. The Historic Sites committee of KCHS maintains the Kitsap County Register of Historic places. It meets monthly to discuss, evaluate and certify places of significant prehistory and history in Kitsap County. The Kitsap Museum Store is dedicated to offering items which reflect our exhibits and the heritage of the Kitsap County area. [ top ] |
The mission of the Kitsap County Historical Society is to collect, preserve and exhibit the diverse culture, heritage and history of Kitsap County for the education and enjoyment of the public.