Quilcene Historical Museum

Those on our paper mailing list will be receiving their printed copy shortly, and those on our electronic email list will be receiving a link to this page. Here is an earlybird preview of our 2015 Annual Report! What a wonderful year it has been – please read all about it!
Click each image to view that page. Move through the pages with the left and right arrows, or click the X to return to this page.

Click any page to view a larger version.

CLICK TO VIEW PDF

The Worthington Park coordinating committee is excited and ready to complete Phase II of the project – restoring the exterior of the house which includes replacing the failed house foundation (completed) and rebuilding the mansard roof and third floor of the residence. The necessary engineering and permitting is in progress and work is scheduled to begin in late spring when the weather cooperates.

Please read the Case Statement

You will be hearing more about the project in the 2015 spring newsletter.

Click to view larger

Museum walls are bursting out with new donations and the buildings and grounds continue to be a destination for people. There was a 182% increase from 2013 (?) in attendance – 2,724 visitors to the Museum and events in 2014. Tourists came from 68 Washington cities, 18 U.S. states and 6 foreign countries.

More than one hundred items (artifacts, documents, photos) were donated by 24 individuals. They included: games, insulators, books, 1889 Quilcene Plat Map, 100 year old Brinnon post office desk, 100 year old bamboo hall tree, publications, menus, Buck Mountain Logging decals, Quilcene Hotel linen, clothing, QHS memorabilia, kitchen items, furniture, artwork, tools and many other local items.

Twenty docents volunteered over 400 hours to meet and greet visitors during the season.
New exhibits included the Worthington Library Books and electrical pole insulators. Planned exhibits for the 2015 season include: Coyle Peninsula and Miles de Leon Art Work and Biography.

It was a record year for events – 28th Museum season, QHS Alumni Reunion reception, annual wine tasting, Linger Longer concerts, wedding and receptions, autumn cider pressing, and Quilcene Oyster Half-Marathon, 10K and 5K races.

We did it!

Quilcene Historical Museum is approved for the Washington State and National Historic Registries!

CLICK TO VIEW

After a long process, the Museum was awarded placement on the Washington State Heritage Registry of Historic Places on February 20, 2014, for the Hamilton-Worthington House. This honor is based on the cultural/historical significant of M.F. Hamilton and W.J. Worthington and their families for their contributions to the social, economic, and cultural development of early Quilcene beginning in the 1880’s. It also recognizes the architectural significance of the mansard roof 2nd Empire Victorian house built by Hamilton in 1892, and purchased and lived in by the Worthington family from 1907 to 2013. This registry is granted and maintained by the governor’s Advisory Council on Historic Preservation and the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation.

On October 8, 2014, the house was awarded placement on the National Register of Historic Places. This honor was given by the U.S. States Department of the Interior, in recognition of its significance to our cultural history.

In a letter to Larry McKeehan (Museum Secretary and registry coordinator) Janet Rogerson, Washington State Capital Projects Manager sent her congratulations:

“I was very pleased to receive your lovely and timely announcement of historic preservation listings! Please pass along my sincere congratulations to your entire board. You’re all doing wonderful work and I’m proud to be working with you! You have much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.” ~ JR

The C. Keith Birkenfeld Memorial Trust, managed by the Seattle Foundation, awarded a $57,000 grant to the Quilcene Historical Museum. The award completed the capital campaign to purchase Worthington Park.

The Museum Board with Claire Bishop

Mr. Birkenfeld passed away in 2005 leaving his substantial estate to be distributed through grants made annually to deserving non-profit organizations for the purpose of building a lasting impact on the communities they serve. The Trust is designed to make grants annually, expending all funds within a twenty-year period. 2013 marks the eighth year of funding with a total of $7.7 million in grants made to date.

The trail system in Worthington Park will be named in Mr. Birkenfeld’s honor. Plans are being made to conduct an outdoor “lab” along the Little Quilcene River trail where students can learn about the ecology of the area, the marine life of the river, and other subjects to be developed.

The Quilcene Historical Museum’s Worthington Park project was one of 4 non-profit organizations to receive funding in Jefferson and Kitsap Counties.

Find out more (PDF link) about the remarkable C. Keith Birkenfeld

More about the Seattle Foundation

The Seattle Foundation is one of the nation’s largest community foundations, with total assets of nearly $600 million. It is governed by a board of respected community leaders and has an unwavering reputation among donors and the community at large. Currently The Seattle Foundation is leading a countywide philanthropic agenda – A Healthy Community – which supports a complex fabric of issues including arts and culture, basic needs, economy, education, environment, health and wellness, and neighborhoods and communities.

http://www.seattlefoundation.org/Pages/Default.aspx

QHM Board members Jim Christiansen and Mari Phillips at
the US Bank in Quilcene