History House of Greater Seattle facts for kids

The History House of Greater Seattle is a museum that opened in 1998. It's all about the history and special stories of Seattle and its many neighborhoods.

This museum is a non-profit group. This means it uses its money to help the community, not to make a profit. It gets support from different groups, the City of Seattle, and King County. People can also donate money to help it run.

The History House is part of the Association of King County Historical Organizations (AKCHO). This group connects history organizations in the area. In 2017, the History House moved to a new spot at 3400 Stone Way N. in the Fremont neighborhood.

History of the Museum

The History House first opened its doors in September 1998. It was started by Suzie Burke, who is known for her work in the Fremont area. Her goal was to celebrate all of Seattle's unique neighborhoods.

When the museum first opened, it featured stories and photos from Suzie Burke's mother, Florence Burke. These stories helped show what Seattle was like in the past.

What the Museum Does

The main goal of the History House is to "seek out and empower individuals and groups to display the history, heritage and art of Greater Seattle's diverse neighborhoods."

This means the museum helps people from each Seattle neighborhood share their own stories. They show how their small towns grew into the distinct communities we see today. It also highlights how these neighborhoods helped Seattle become the city it is.

Explore the Exhibits

The History House believes that "every neighborhood has a place to tell their story." Each year, the museum focuses on one or two parts of the city. People who live in those neighborhoods are asked to share "YOUR story YOUR way." This helps create the exhibits.

Unlike many museums where experts called curators create the displays, the History House lets local residents decide what their neighborhood's history means. They get to show how their area has changed over time.

The museum has people who can help community members tell their stories. They also give out a special packet with ideas, information, and resources. This helps people create their own displays.

Past and Present Exhibits

The museum has featured many interesting exhibits over the years.

• May 2009 Exhibits: These included picture stories of the Fremont, Wallingford, Georgetown, Madison Park, Queen Anne, and Ballard neighborhoods. The museum also showed histories of the Woodland Park Zoo, the Great Northern Railway, and the B. F. Day Elementary School. A special exhibit, made with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, showed how the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks in Ballard were built.

• "34 Unique Museums of King County" (2007): This exhibit introduced visitors to 34 different museums in King County.

• "Late for the Interurban" (2008): The History House helped celebrate a local TV star, J.P. Patches. They unveiled a new statue honoring J.P. Patches and his friend Gertrude. The bronze statue is called "Late for the Interurban" by artist Kevin Pettelle. It shows J.P. Patches (Chris Wedes) and Gertrude (Bob Newman). You can find this statue in Solstice Plaza in Fremont.

• "Strength and Stamina: Women of the Seattle Fire Department" (2009): This exhibit told the story of how brave women worked hard to become firefighters in Seattle. There is also an online version of this exhibit.

Community Projects

The History House also works on other projects with the community.

High School Senior Projects

In Washington state, high school students must complete a senior project to graduate. This project usually involves creating something related to their community.

In 2001, the History House started a special program. Students could research and create a display about a part of Seattle's neighborhood history.

Students have completed projects that explored the experiences of Native Americans. They also covered how pioneers settled neighborhoods and how areas grew economically and socially. Some projects even showed how specific neighborhoods helped the larger Seattle community.

Some of these student projects have been put on permanent display in places like banks, fire stations, libraries, and high schools.

How the Museum is Run

The museum is guided by a Board of Directors. Currently, there are 23 members on the board, and the museum's founder, Suzie Burke, leads them.

The board members are very involved in the museum's daily activities. They help with things like organizing student field trips, concerts, and other events at the museum.

Resources and Events

The History House offers many resources and hosts fun events for the community.

• Neighborhood Community Focus: This provides ideas, information, and tools for researching local history.
• Reference Library: A library filled with books and materials about Seattle's history.
• History House Magazine: A publication about local history.
• Exhibit Gallery: A space with a large wall mural showing 100 years of Seattle history.
• Photographic Displays: Collections of historical photos.
• Video Displays: Videos that show Seattle's past, including clips from early local TV stars like the clown J.P. Patches.
• Gift Shop: Here you can find historical books and videos about Seattle's neighborhoods. It also sells art and crafts made by local artists.
• Sculpture Garden: This outdoor area has unique sculptures. It includes a large piece of The Berlin Wall, a fire engine, a 15-foot model orca whale named "Willy," and "The Safe," which was found under a local tavern.
• Community Meeting Space: Local groups like the Fremont Neighborhood Council and the Fremont Chamber of Commerce often hold their meetings here.

Fun Events

• Summer Concert Series: Every Sunday in June and July, the museum hosts free concerts at 2 pm. The music ranges from folk and new age to maritime songs, Celtic, Irish, blues, and more.
• Family Day: A special day designed for families to enjoy the museum together.

See also

• List of museums in Washington (state)