Lake Stevens Historical Museum

About

A nonprofit corporation dedicated to gathering historical information and artifacts about the Lake Stevens area and informing the community about its past.

Story

The museum construction was started in 1986 and completed in 1989, dedicated in September, on the 100th anniversary of Washington Statehood. Starting with a $1000 donation from Bob and Helen Lund of Glass by Lund, museum construction began. The first task was to tear down the lean-to on the site we were to use and expand the 10’x10’ cement floor. Because only limited time could be spent on it originally, and weather had to cooperate, construction moved very slowly at first. But by the time the museum was dedicated, more than 75 individuals and organizations had worked and contributed towards its completion. Gayle Whitsell, Keith Morgan, Al Kennaugh, Wes Kennaugh, and Ken Withrow provided a majority of the labor, but everyone who contributed in any way at all became a necessary member of the building team; each one was needed. In fact, Anne Whitsell was finishing some interior painting while Gayle was giving the welcome to the more than 200 people who braved the near 90 degree day and attended the dedication. We received material free or at cost from businesses such as Adams Hardware, received special deals on merchandise, and received donations of cash and artifacts from all over. The museum truly is a monument to community teamwork and involvement.

The Lake Stevens Historical Museum is known as one of the finest small-town museums in the state. Other historical societies that started or remodeled museums toured ours for ideas on how to build and show effective displays; several have copied our design. The “central lobby” area was designed to be used for rotating displays and newly donated artifacts. Two window displays can be used to accent the main exhibit’s theme or as separate display areas.

The museum has nine permanent displays covering eight facets of the town’s history, highlighting early years; the impact of logging and mills on the area; education; recreation; and Mitchell’s Pharmacy which was the hub of the community from 1920 until moving to Frontier Village in 1960. I am one of those people who saves everything; I have more of what people consider junk than does the average person. I don’t know what makes people do that, but the Historical Society is grateful to those with this “gift.” For some reason, Jim and Nancy Mitchell saved hundreds of items from the old downtown store; these were put in the museum 29 years after the pharmacy left its original location. For some reason, Gayle Whitsell saved doors and other things from the old high school affectionately known as the “Pink Palace” when that building was demolished; when you enter the museum, you go through the main doors and archway from the east entrance of the Pink Palace. Bruce Kennaugh

Mission

Lake Stevens Historical Society Mission Statement
This corporation shall be conducted as a nonprofit corporation gathering historical information and artifacts about Lake Stevens. It shall preserve such information and artifacts and develop informational methods to inform and educate the Lake Stevens community about its historical past.

Products

"Reminiscing...Lake Stevens, the Early Years" by the Lake Stevens Historical Society, 2004. $25.00 plus shipping. Tax included.

"Lake Stevens, My Town" by Jim Mitchell. $15.00 (tax included) plus shipping.