Edmonds South Snohomish County Historical Society

ESSCHS IS DEDICATED TO PRESERVING AND SHARING THE HERITAGE OF OUR COMMUNITY. SEE PART III, SECTION I FOR THE COMPLETE MISSION STATEMENT.

MUSEUM: THE SOCIETY HOLDS AN EXTENSIVE COLLECTION OF ARTIFACTS AND DOCUMENTS BEING HELD IN AN OFF-SITE FACILITY. DIRECTOR UPDATED AND GREATLY ENLARGED THE RESEARCH AREA WITH MORE DOCUMENTS AVAILABLE TO THE COMMUNITY FOR AIDED OR SELF DISCOVERY RESEARCH. SOME OF THE DOCUMENTS NOW ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC ARE LOCAL NEWSPAPERS FROM THE 20TH CENTURY. THE DIRECTOR CONTINUES TO SPEND MUCH TIME DOING RESEARCH HERSELF FOR THE COMMUNITY AND FROM KNOWLEDGE SEEKERS AROUND THE COUNTRY. COLLECTION WORK CONTUES AS CITY, BUSINESS, AND FAMILY TREASURES ARE DONATED.INVENTORIES, CATALOGING AND CARE OF THE EVER INCREASING COLLECTION IS ONGOING AND PERFORMED TO GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS SET BY THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HISTORICAL MUSEUMS.ESTIMATED EXPENSES INCLUDE SALARY FOR A PART-TIME COLLECTIONS MANAGER AND RENTAL COSTS FOR THE STORAGE FACILITY.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: THE SOCIETY OPERATES A MUSEUM THAT WAS ONLY OPEN TO THE PUBLIC BETWEEN JANUARY 1 AND MARCH 13 OF 2020.DURING THAT TIME IT OFFERED PERMANENT DISPLAYS REFLECTING EDMONDS/SOUTH SNOHOMISH COUNTY. HISTORIC PICTURES, DOCUMENTS AND OBITUARIES ARE AVAILABLE AT THE MUSEUM PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESEARCH AND GENEALOGY INVESTIGATION.PARTNERING WITH EDMONDS ORGANIZATIONS KEPT THE MUSEUM REACHING OUT TO THE COMMUNITY. COLLECTIONS WORK CONTINUED. MANY HOURS WERE INVOLVED IN EXTENSIVE RESEARCH REQUESTS, BOTH LOCAL AND FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY.THE EDMONDS HISTORICAL MUSEUM PARTNERED WITH EDMONDS DOWNTOWN ALLIANCE FOR SUMMER SCAVENGER HUNT AROUND TOWN AND THROUGH TIME. NUMEROUS FAMILIES AND FRIEND GROUPS PARTICIPATED.400+ EDMONDS MUSEUM KIDS ACTIVITY BOOKS WERE PASSED OUT FREE OF CHARGE AT THE SUMMER MARKETS. THESE BOOKS CONTAIN HISTORY OF EDMONDS QUESTIONS, ALONG WITH PICTURES OF FAMILIAR HISTORIC PLACES, SUCH AS OUR MUSEUM FOR COLORING.ESTIMATED EXPENSES INCLUDE THE SALARY FOR THE MUSEUM DIRECTOR AND COSTS OF CREATING EXHIBITS.

PLAZA RENOVATION: IN 2015 THE SOCIETY RENOVATED AND ENHANCED THE EXTERIOR AREA NEAR THE ENTRANCE TO ESTABLISH A DISPLAY OF INFORMATION REGARDING THE HISTORY OF EDMONDS. IT OFFERS AN EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY EVEN WHEN THE MUSEUM IS CLOSED. A VALUED ARTIFACT, THE HISTORIC EDMONDS SCHOOL BELL, WAS RESURFACED TO REPAIR YEARS OF ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE.THE COMPLETION OF THE PROJECT CARRIED OVER INTO 2018 AND 2019. THE SALE OF ENGRAVED PAVERS CARRIED THROUGH 2021. A CARVED CEDAR PANEL "MARSH LIFE" HONORING THE HERITAGE OF THE COAST SALISH PEOPLE WAS INSTALLED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE EDMONDS HISTORICAL MUSEUM BUILDING.