Museums, Heritage Centers, and Historical Societies in the Tri-Cities Washington Region
Resource links to heritage centers, historical societies, museums, and national historical sites are provided in this section for Tri-Cities Washington and other nearby communities in Southeast Washington and Northeast Oregon.
Hanford Site - 1945
Museums, Heritage Centers, and Historical Societies in Southeast Washington
Burbank
The Wanapum Heritage Center presents, maintains, and continues Wanapum history and way of life. The museum is located next to Wanapum dam on the Columbia River.Dayton
The Dayton Train Depot is the oldest surviving train depot in the state. It was originally built in 1881 and is now a museum.Grandview
The RE Powlell Museum offers an abundance of history display items. All types of cultural enrichment opportunities are on hand for your enjoymentKennewick
The East Benton County Historical Society and Museum is dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the rich history in this area. The architectural history section on this website is very interesting!Moses Lake
The Adam East Museum and Art Center provides the area with a community location for both history and visual arts and features an extensive collection of historical artifacts including the prestigious "Adam East Collection".Palouse
The The Roy M. Chatters Newspaper and Printing Museum was established to preserve the older equipment and methods of printing called "letter-press printing."Pasco
The Franklin County Historical Society and Museum captures the history of Franklin County. The museum, originally constructed in 1910 as part of Andrew Carnegie's worldwide library construction program, is operated by volunteers of the Franklin County Historical SocietyThe Sacajawea State Park and Interpretive Center tells the remarkable story of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The exhibits highlight their activities at this site and the role of their interpreter, Sacagawea.
The Washington State Railroads Historical Society is dedicated to preserving the history of railroads and railroading in the State of Washington. The Society operates a museum that is open to the public from May to December on Saturdays.
Pomeroy
The Garfield County Museum consists of articles donated by people of Garfield County. One of the most popular displays is a license plate collection. The Museum's quilt collection is also very popular.Prosser
The Benton County Historical Museum features a variety of pioneering artifacts, American Indian items, and more. The museum is over 5000 sq ft with over 20,000 items on display.Richland
The B Reactor Museum Association is an all-volunteer association of individuals and groups working to preserve the historic B Reactor on the Hanford Nuclear Site as a public museum.The Columbia River Exhibition of History, Science, and Technology (CREHST) is a museum and science center created to tell the dynamic story of the Columbia Basin and surrounding region.
The Reach is the new Hanford Interpretive Center being developed to celebrate and learn about the natural and cultural history of the Hanford Reach of the Columbia River and greater Columbia Basin.
Sunnyside
The Sunnyside Historical Museum features a collection of artifacts and documents, as well as several displays depicting home life in Sunnyside at the turn of the 20th century.Toppenish
The American Hop Museum is the nation's only hop museum dedicated to the preservation of the historical equipment, photos, and artifacts that have long been important in the growing and harvesting of the obscure perennial vine, Humulus lupulus, that is vital to the brewing industry.The Northern Pacific Railway Museum is located in a restored 1911 Northern Pacific Railway depot and provides an opportunity for visitors to view many aspects of early railroad transportation.
The Toppenish Historical Society gathers Toppenish and valley information and preserves the history for future generations.
The Toppenish Historical Museum includes the Estelle Reel Meyer collection of American Indian basketry and beadwork. Exhibits on the cattle industry, antique firefighting equipment, school memorabilia from 1930-1950 and works by local artists are also displayed.
The Yakama Nation Museum and Cultural Heritage Center is home to one of the oldest Native American Museums in the United States. The 12,000 sqare foot exhibition hall is the result of years of effort on the part of the Yakama people.
Waitsburg
Bruce Memorial Museum: The Bruce House is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and maintained by the Waitsburg Historical Society. Tours are available during the summer months by appointment.Walla Walla
The Fort Walla Walla Museum offers five large exhibit halls, a 17-building pioneer village, and more than 40 Living History performances each season. The Museum occupies 15 acres within Fort Walla Walla Park, part of the original 600-acre military reservation of Fort Walla Walla.Kirkman House Museum: The Kirkman House has been on the National Historic Register since 1975. This Italianate Style mansion contains 12 large rooms and numerous smaller ones.
WallaWallaHistory.com is an online virtual museum of old photographs, ads, and maps associated with the Walla Walla region.
Whitman Mission National Historic Site commemorates Marcus and Narcissa Whitman, the role they played in establishing the Oregon Trail, and the challenges encountered when two cultures met.
White Swan
The Fort Simcoe State Park Heritage Site is a 200-acre, day-use heritage park in south central Washington on the Yakama Indian Nation Reservation. The park is primarily an interpretive effort, telling the story of mid-19th century army life and providing insights into the lifeways of local Native American culture.Yakima
Yakima Memory features searchable images from the collections at the Yakima Valley Regional Library and the Yakima Valley Museum.The Yakima Valley Museum is a 65,000 sq.ft. facility that offers historical exhibits on the Yakima Valley - its natural history, American Indian culture, pioneer life, early city life, and the roots and development of the Valley’s fruit industry.
Museums, Heritage Centers, and Historical Societies in Northeast Oregon
Echo
The Chinese House Railroad Museum features Union Pacific and Oregon Railway and Navigation Company tools, photos and other items used in early Echo and Oregon railroad operations.Milton-Freewater
The Frazier-Farmstead Museum is a six acre site listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Frazier home was built in 1892 and houses a fine collection of antique furnishings and other items of the 19th Century daily living. Most of the furnishings are the original items to the home.Pendleton
The Pendleton Round-Up Hall of Fame showcases the history of the Pendleton Round-Up and the people and animals involved. It includes facinating displays of Round-Up history, past Royalty, Presidents, Champions, and even rodeo stock.The Tamastslikt Cultural Institute opened in August 1998 and presents an entirely new perspective on history - that of the Cayuse, Umatilla, and Walla Walla Tribes.
The Umatilla County Historical Society maintains the Heritage Station Museum which is a 1909 train depot that houses their exhibit galleries. On the grounds you’ll be able to ride the rails in the caboose, attend class in a 1879 one-room schoolhouse, and walk through an 1879 homestead.
Umatilla
The Umatilla Museum & Historical Foundation was formed with the purpose of preserving the history of the Umatilla community and the surrounding area. The foundation maintains the Umatilla Museum which recruits traveling exhibits. One of the past exhibits was about the Native Americans and Lewis & Clark.
Other Resources of Interest
Arid Lands (a film)
An award winning film, Arid Lands, focuses on the environmental and cultural history of the Mid-Columbia Basin. The film tells the story of the changes that have shaped this landscape, from Hanford nuclear production and federal irrigation projects, to more recent forces, such as environmental cleanup, housing development, and tourism. For more information, see www.sidelongfilms.com.
Center for Columbia River History
The Center for Columbia River History promotes the study of Columbia River Basin history and includes historical information for communities including Moses Lake, WA and Umatilla, OR.
The Columbia River - A Photographic Journey
A wonderful photo essay, The Columbia River - A Photographic Journey, explores Lewis & Clark's Columbia River - "200 Years Later." According to Lyn Topinka, the journey "includes over 2,500 images of geographic areas and interesting items along 330-plus miles of the Columbia River, covering the area seen by Lewis and Clark in 1805 and 1806."
Genealogical Societies
There are several genealogical societies in this region that are dedicated to preserving the past for future generations:- Blue Mountain Genealogy Society (Pendleton)
- The Tri-City Genealogical Society
- Walla Walla County GenWeb Project
- Yakima Valley Genealogical Society
General Washington and Oregon History
The Washington Secretary of State has a section on Washington History where you can search historical records, view historical newspapers, and view online presentations on Washtington State history. In addition, HistoryLink.org is an online encylopedia of Washington State history that can be searched.The Oregon Blue Book, which is the official state directory and fact book about all levels of government in Oregon, has a section on Oregon History. In addition, A Place Called Oregon offers history and genealogy information for Oregon State and has a section on Umatilla County.
Kennewick Man Virtual Interpretive Center
The Tri-City Herald provides an archive of the Herald's articles, along with links to other resources related to the discovery of the Kennewick Man who is believed to have lived 9,200 years ago in this region.