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Skagit River Journal

of History & Folklore
Free Home Page Stories & Photos
The most in-depth, comprehensive site about the Skagit
Covers from British Columbia to Puget Sound. Counties covered: Skagit, Whatcom, Island, San Juan, Snohomish & BC. An evolving history dedicated to committing random acts of historical kindness

Noel V. Bourasaw, editor

810 Central Ave., Sedro-Woolley, Washington, 98284
Home of the Tarheel Stomp

Mortimer Cook slept here & named the town Bug

Skagit county and regional museums

See the panels below for specific exhibits and calendars from various museums for Summer 2006 and beyond.
Attn: Museums, we need your 2007 schedule. Are you an administrator or a volunteer for your local museum? These listings are absolutely free, so take advantage now.
Has your museum sent us a calendar yet? Email for details of what we need to list you.

The Skagit River Hotel was a crude split-cedar cabin built by loggers. A replica can be seen at the Sedro-Woolley museum. Photo by Darius Kinsey. Click on photo for story.

Please either email or mail information about the museum or gallery which you know about or participate in. And please email scans of the museum and/or exhibits. We will add a new museum page every few weeks as we receive information from the museum officials. Click on the ones for now that have blue, underlined links.
Our history of the Sedro-Woolley Museum and the museum's official website. 2007 alert: The Sedro-Woolley Museum is inviting the public to its 15th Anniversary Open House on July 1, 2007. This museum features a main street walk with representative shops, an ho-gauge model railroad train (they run on most Sundays), blacksmith shop, and antique cars, the real thing for logging and railroad history. Funded by private donations and fund-raising and not a government facility. The address downtown is: 725 Murdock St Sedro Woolley, WA 98284-1457; Phone: (360) 855-2390; Open afternoons from noon to 4 on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, and Saturday mornings from 9 a.m. The museum celebrates Founders Days on the second weekend of September annually. Also see our other pages on this museum: the story of the late Kerry Freeman, the guiding hand for the museum in its first 11 years, who we sadly lost in 2003, and the story of the fine photo book about Sedro-Woolley that the Museum produced in 2003
Official site of the LaConner Quilt Museum, a beautiful exhibit in the beautifully restored Gaches Mansion on the hill in LaConner, which the museum acquired in 2005. They are about to celebrate their ninth anniversary. You still have time to see the "Color of Japan , Old and New" show that extends through September 2006. That will be replaced by the "On Tour with Landscape Quilts" show, Sept. 20-Dec. 31, 2006, featuring quilt artists Sandra Leichner, Kathy McNeil, Cassandra Williams. And "Baffin Island to Vancouver Island-A personal Journey," quilts by Judy Farrow through the same dates.
The Anacortes History Museum and Carnegie Gallery's official site, is possibly the best such website in the state. It includes photos, history and the context of the Anacortes boom of 1890 and the attempts since then to establish a viable economy through the ups and downs of the ensuring 11 decades. The museum is located in the original Anacortes Carnegie library.
Official site of the Padilla Bay Reserve, a historical resource that is administered by the Washington state Department of Ecology near Bay View. It is also a tremendous resource for hikers, environmentalists and farmers, as you will see.
The Whatcom Museum of History & Art is housed in the beautiful old courthouse of Whatcom County in old town Bellingham. It is a tremendous resource and houses the extensive collection of Darius Kinsey photos.

Padilla Bay
Skagit County Historical Museum in LaConner. A wonderful display of items and photos, with a beautiful view of the LaConner flats where Skagit county settlement started in the late 1860s. There is also a research library where you can study by appointment. The website is highlighted by a link to the story and photos of the general store, the social center of every frontier town. That feature was organized by Janet Oakley. The current 2006 exhibit is titled "Fibers of Life II: Native Treasures from the Forest to the Flats."
This is a fun site, especially oriented to kids and students, from the Fairhaven Virtual Museum. Fairhaven has such a close connection with Sedro-Woolley, another boom town from the same period of the late 1880s and 1890s, when the Fairhaven & Southern Railroad connected Fairhaven and old-Sedro.
If you are associated with a museum or gallery, please send us a link if you are online, or mail us information about your exhibits and hours if you are not. Please include a contact email address, if possible, so our readers can email with inquiries.

Museum Events Summer 2006 and beyond
Skagit County:

Concrete Heritage Museum 7380 Thompson Avenue, Concrete . . . Museum open Saturdays, Memorial Day through Labor Day Noon to 4 p.m.
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Concrete Heritage Tours 45-minute tours on the Sockeye Express, on Saturday afternoons from Memorial Day to Labor Day, starting at the Concrete Saturday Market (Senior Center grounds). $3 per person. Or, we can schedule a special tour for groups of 6 to 12 people. Call Cheri, 360-853-7009 to arrange a time.
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Pancake Breakfasts: Saturdays, July 1 & Sept 2, 7:30 -11:30 am. Join us at the Concrete Senior Center/Saturday Market for all-you-can-eat pancakes and ham, $5 ($4 for Museum members)
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Annual Potluck picnic, Aug. 10, Concrete Senior Center, 6 p.m., live music
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Cascade Days Aug. 18-20, annual parade on Saturday, 19th Volunteers needed: meeting — second Tuesday each month, 7:00 pm, at the Concrete Senior Center
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Bald Eagle Festival Feb. 3, 2007, Old Timers get-together hosted by Jim Harris. Feb. 4 Pancake Breakfast.
Contact: Cheri Cook-Blodgett, Skagit County Upriver Services, 45770 Main, Concrete, WA, 360-853-7009, cheric@co.skagit.wa.us . . : Website Museum President: President: Robin Wood 826-3075

Clearlake Museum Annual Clearlake Reunion always on the third Saturday in July in even years at the museum. On odd years, the reunion is in Day Creek at a date to be announced. If you wish to receive bulletins about meetings and events, please email or mail to get on the mailing list. The museum is in the restored IOOF (Odd Fellows) hall. For more details about the meeting or for appointments to tour the museum and view records, contact Phyllis Deanna Ammons pda98235@earthlink.net . . . P.O. Box 333 Clear Lake, WA 98235, (360) 856-6798 . . . Chuck Hyatt's Memories of Clearlake book

Big Lake Valley Historical Exhibit Big Lake School Gymnasium
Aug. 12: 10-5 p.m . . . . Aug. 13: 1-5 p.m. Details This exhibit repeats in every even year

Museum of Northwest Art 121 South First Street La Conner, WA 98257
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Regional Art shows: La Conner Arts Festival June 24-25 . . . Mount Vernon Children's Art Festival at Hillcrest Park, July 15 . . . Anacortes Arts Festival Aug. 5-6 . . . July 15 Family Art Days Out and About . . . Mount Vernon Children's Art Festival, Hillcrest Park Located north of Blackburn Street, between S. 10th and S. 13th Street
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At Mona: Veggie Prints Supreme, Saturday, July 15, 10-4, Patty Weber, painter and educator. Use the unique and intriguing shapes of many common vegetables (beyond potatoes and carrots!)to print your own fantastic pictures. Artists Reception, 2-5 PM Thursday, July 27, Adult Program Curator's Gallery Talk "All in the Painted View and Italo Scanga: A Tribute", 1:30 p.m. Walk through the exhibitions with MoNA Curator Susan Parke.
Contact: Gregory Robinson, Executive Director . . . (360) 466-4446 . . . Email: gmrobinson@museumofnwart.org . . . Curator Susan Parke . . . Art Educator Tamera Tollefson . . . website . . . Skagit Valley Herald article celebrating 25 years

Whatcom County:

Semiahmoo Park Museum 9261 Semiahmoo Parkway, Blaine, WA 98230
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Open Saturday and Sunday 1-5 p.m., May 27 through Sept 2006. Group tours available. Features the history of Alaska Packers Association, Semiahmoo Cannery, a 28-foot Bristol Bay fishing boat, model fish trap, historic film footage on video, in a beautiful beach setting at Semiahmoo Spit in Blaine.
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Birding at Semiahmoo Saturdays, June 3, July 1, August 5, September 2, 2006 . . . Website . . . Want to know more about the local birds around Semiahmoo? Join Paul Woodcock from the North Cascades Audubon Society and discuss birding as you walk the rocky beaches of Semiahmoo, a premier birding location. Bring field guides, binoculars and scopes. Dress for beach walking and the weather. 9 a.m. to noon, Meet at the Semiahmoo Park Museum, More info: (360) 733-2900
Contact: Alice Brown Email: sunnyalice@verizon.net, (360) 371-3558 . . . Website

Island County

South Whidbey Museum Langley, Washington. Hours: Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays Noon to 4 or by appointment
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Saturdays, Historical Society sponsors guided walking tours of downtown Langley, begins at 1 p.m. at Chamber of Commerce, 2d and Anthes streets, last an hour, ends at South Whidbey Historical Museum. Donation: $5 per person, $8 per family, includes admission to the Museum.
Contact: Linda Beeman South Whidbey Historical Society, Email: lbeeman@whidbey.com, (360) 371-3558 or . . . (360) 221-2101 . . . Website

Island County Historical Society & Museum Island County Historical Society & Museum, 908 NW Alexander Street, Coupeville
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July 2 and Sept. 3: 1-3 p.m., Sunnyside Cemetery Tour, off Highway 525 & Sherman Road, hosted by local guides and authors such as Theresa Trebon. Donation $5 per person
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July 29, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Prairie Home & Barn Tour, self-guided drive around Central Whidbey Island, perfect for a picnic, $15 per person
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Oct. 7 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Mammoth Day, A Children's Event, hosted by an archeologist, dig for mammoth bones, make fossils, see the largest woolly mammoth bone collection in the Puget Sound and talk to the man who collected them. Be a paleontologist for a day. Free with donation admission to the museum
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Dec. 9 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Holiday Home Tour, $15 per person
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Annual Fundraiser on June 24 Proof can be found in the Island County Historical Society's Museum which contains over 12,000 artifacts and 9,000 pieces of archival material (photos, letters, etc.) — donated by people here on Whidbey Island and across the country. In order to continue the work being done at the museum, the Society will conduct its 3rd
Contact: Diana C. Walti, Public Relations Coordinator, Island County Historical Society, P.O. Box 305, Coupeville, WA 98239, Email: pr-ichs@whidbey.net, . . . Website, (360) 240-1709 (360) 678-3310

San Juan Island County

Island Museum of Art 314 Spring Street, Friday Harbor, San Juan Island, Westcott Bay Sculpture Park, Roche Harbor Road across from the Roche Harbor Airstrip
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Every Saturday Family Art Days 11 a.m.-4 p.m., from Memorial Day weekend thru Labor Day weekend. Free.
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Sept. 8 and 9 "Artists In Action" all day. Sculptors demonstrating their stone carving, woodcarving, and bronzecasting techniques, and exhibiting their artworks, drop-in arts & crafts activities
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Sept. 9 Best of the San Juans Festival. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., wine tasting, salmon, oysters, cider, local foods. Artists sell artwork and demonstrate talents.
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April 21-June 4 Northwest Stone Sculptors Association 2nd Annual Exhibit
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June 9-July 30 Steve Jensen, artist
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Aug. 4-Sept. 24 Jack Gunter, artist, reception: Aug. 4, 5-7 p.m.
Contact: Kay Kammerzell, P.O. Box 339, Friday Harbor, WA 98250, Email: kay@wbay.org, (360) 371-3558 . . . Website . . . All 103 sculptures listed . . . (360) 370-5050

Orcas Island Historical Museum 181 North Beach Road, Eastsound Village, Museum open May 26-Sept. 29, 2006. Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 10 a.m.-3p.m., except Friday 1 p.m.-6 p.m.
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July 1 Historical Day Fair 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Orcas Island Historical Museum & Eastsound Village Square Green properties. Craft demonstrations, non-profit presentations, food & product vendors
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Sept. 29 Closing House Celebration at the Orcas Island Historical Museum. 4-6 p.m. Last chance to view our summer exhibit on Orcas Island resort history, "Orcas Island, the Vacation Land Complete"
Contact: Email: orcasmuseum@rockisland.com, (360) 376-4849 . . . Website

British Columbia

"Broad Side of the Barn" Website . . . topical articles, stories and humor, Katherine Morrison, Email: info@broadsideofthebarn.com

Story posted on posted on Aug. 1, 2000, and last updated on June 1, 2006 . . . Please report any broken links so we can update them

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