Sequim Museum & Arts facts for kids

This mural shows the Manis Mastodon with its bones. It's a big part of the museum's exhibits!

The Sequim Museum & Arts is a cool place in downtown Sequim, Washington, where you can learn about local history for free! It started in 1976. This museum is famous for having the tusks and bones of the Manis Mastodon. These ancient bones were found at a very old human camp on what is now called the Manis Farm. This site is special because it shows one of the first times humans and mastodons met, about 13,000 years ago!

Discover the Past

The Amazing Manis Mastodon

The museum's main attraction is the Manis Mastodon exhibit. You'll see a huge mural of the mastodon with its real bones attached. There are also other items found nearby and a video that explains how archaeologists dug up these amazing finds. It's like stepping back in time!

Local History and More

The museum also has many old photos from the 1800s. These pictures show how important the dairy industry was in the area long ago. You can see models of the "Mosquito Fleet," which were small boats that used to be the main way to travel around this region. There are also records about the Dungeness Wharf, Washington Harbor, and Port Williams, reminding us of early transportation.

Special Collections and Art

The Cowan Family Collection is a changing display of interesting items about natural history. The Judith McInnes Tozzer Gallery often shows new art from local artists. You can also learn about the "Boys in the Boat" exhibit, which tells the story of Joe Rantz and his rowing team who won a gold medal in the 1936 Olympics. The museum also displays old cars and tractors, a dairy farm setup, and a logging exhibit. There's even a special exhibit about the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe.

Museum History and Locations

How the Museum Grew

The first museum building opened on May 10, 1979. It was located at 175 W. Cedar Street, in an old Post Office building. In 1992, the museum joined with the Peninsula Cultural Arts Center. This created the Museum & Arts Center in the Sequim-Dungeness Valley. Later, in 1995, the museum got the historic Dungeness School. The current main exhibit building opened on July 6, 2019. In the same year, the museum officially changed its name to the Sequim Museum & Arts.

Where to Find Us

The main Exhibit Center is at 544 N. Sequim Ave. in Sequim. The museum's offices are also in the DeWitt Building at the same address. This building also holds the Whatton Library for Historical Research, the Vollenweider Archives, the Robert Cooper Photography Studio, and the John & Inez Cowan Collection. The old Dungeness School is located at 2781 Towne Rd.

Supporting the Museum

The Sequim Museum takes care of the historic Dungeness School (which you can even rent!), the Captain John Morris House, and the Washington Harbor Schoolhouse. The museum is a private non-profit group. This means it gets its money from people who become members, give donations, leave money in their wills, and from grants. It does not get money from the local county or city government.