Dear Friends,
Exciting things are happening at the Museum! I’m thrilled to share that I am stepping into a full-time role as Executive Director in June after 19 years of being here part-time. This means more time dedicated to growing our programs, improving our exhibits, and ensuring our museum continues to educate and inspire visitors of all ages. This fall, we also brought on two additional part-time staff members: Bridene Fisher, our new Collection and Membership Assistant, and Julia Stull, our new Visitor Services Assistant. Please join me in welcoming them to the Museum!
Our Spring Newsletter just went in the mail this morning, click here to see a digital copy.
This summer, we’re launching a brand-new Toddler Time program, designed especially for our youngest history enthusiasts. Through interactive storytelling, hands-on activities, and engaging play, we’ll introduce young minds to the wonders of the railway and the rich history of our region.
We also plan on having a more significant community presence this year. If you attend our towns’ annual parades, keep an eye out for our booth and stop by. We are kicking off the season June 7th at Duvall Days, followed by Fall City Days on June 14th, and the Carnation 4th of July Celebration on Independence Day. These will be followed by events in Snoqualmie and North Bend.
We’re hard at work on new updates at the Museum! We have opened a new exhibit: Changing Life in the Snoqualmie Valley (1880s-1910s). This period was a time of transformation as the railroad’s arrival reshaped industries, communities, and daily life. This exhibit will bring that history to life with personal stories and artifacts.
We are also excited to be upgrading our Museum. We have received a generous 4Culture Doors Open Capital Heritage grant that will allow us to make critical upgrades to the museum to preserve our collections for future generations. We’re installing temperature and humidity control systems in both buildings, insulating the farm shed, resurfacing the patio, adding ADA-accessible doors to ensure our museum is welcoming to all, painting the exterior, and creating an outdoor program space.
We have just received a grant from the Snoqualmie Valley Rotary to begin digitizing our VHS oral history interviews. Stay tuned for news on this in the future.
A heartfelt thank you to our major donors who are making these improvements possible: the Snoqualmie Tribe, 4Culture, the Garneau-Nicon Family Foundation, and the City of North Bend. Your generosity is helping us create a stronger, more accessible, and more engaging museum for everyone.
I invite you to visit soon to see all these exciting changes firsthand. Whether you’re stopping by to explore the exhibits, bringing a child to Toddler Time, or considering ways to get involved, we can’t wait to welcome you to the museum!
With gratitude,
Cristy Lake
Executive Director