Tag: Washington State History Museum

People living on the West Coast of the U.S. learn a little about geology in a tangible way: through earthquakes or the Mt. St. Helens volcanic eruption. In Tacoma the Washington State History Museum has well imagined exhibits that bring this sometimes esoteric discipline to life.

In addition to wall photography that illustrates geologic eras and events, there’s a video map display that graphically illustrates the dynamic forces that formed the lands and mountains we know in Washington State. The map progresses through eras showing joining of drifting plates, volcanic eruptions, ice flows, and the tilting of the plate that created the Olympic Mountain range. Fascinating stuff!

This exhibit impressed us so much we brought home a new book on Washington geology and later purchased a second one on the recommendation of a friend.

The Washington State History Museum in Tacoma includes exhibits on Native Americans and their lives after first contact.

Land sales were just one of many shameful practices which robbed tribes of their lands, stripped them of rights, introduced disease, and attempted to destroy their cultures.

This exhibit explained how 40% of the 18,000 acre Puyallup reservation was sold in violation of an 1855 treaty. Lands were often auctioned without the consent or knowledge of parcel owners and advertised far from the event. Locally, few knew of it.

The older I get the more I appreciate history. So what better place to spend my birthday than a history museum?

I’d heard good things about the Washington State History Museum and it was all that and more. We spent an entire day there and didn’t cover everything. The exhibit above is just one example of one of the imaginative ways Washington’s history is portrayed. There are nearly 80 products made from Washington’s forestry products displayed.

Here’s a closer view. What do you see?