Museum - Kittitas County Historical Museum in Ellensburg, Washington

This Thursday at 6pm! Don't have your FREE ticket yet? Get one today at https://keycitypublictheatre.org/2020/maysvote/ Learn about two women--May Arkwright Hutton and Emma Smith DeVoe--who helped most Washington women gain the right to vote in 1910, and the path they helped to pave for the 19th Amendment in 1920. Find out how much these two women were different, yet common, through their lives and work. And along the way, you might hear about a connection to Kittitas County ...history. Those who've seen the show hosted elsewhere have raved about it! Comments have included "That was just incredible! I really liked the multi-media, pictures, writings..." and "The timing of everything was really seamless. So well done." So be sure to get your ticket today and join us on Thursday at 6pm.

The Kittitas County Historical Museum will be temporarily closed beginning November 16th until December 14th. We will continue to provide online services, including our lecture scheduled for this Thursday, Nov. 19th. We will still be answering the phone, emails, and inquiries by Facebook. Staff is still employed and volunteers are still on our logs, and we appreciate all the concern for our personnel. We look forward to seeing everyone when we reopen. For more information about the museum and upcoming events click here: https://www.kchm.org/

Join us for a virtual performance of the play May's Vote on Thursday, Nov 19th at 6pm! This streamed performance, followed by a live commentary and Q & A, features the lives of two very different Washington State women who built upon our state's legacy and fought gallantly for the right of the first women to vote in the United States, marked by the 19th Amendment. Meet Emma Smith DeVoe and May Arkwright Hutton, two fascinating women, who helped win the fight and the right despite their vastly different views on how to succeed. For tickets: https://keycitypublictheatre.org/2020/maysvote/

Are you looking for an apartment in historic downtown Ellensburg? A wonderful unit in the Cadwell Apartments is available for move-in on November 16th! Rent is $850 a month (on a month-to-month lease) with a $850 deposit. If you're interested in the unit, more info can be found online at https://yakima.craigslist.org//kittitas-ap/7226129651.html or by contacting the KCHM today!

All Aboard Whistle Stop #3! Visit our friends at Kittitas County Historical Museum for the third stop on our Suffrage Special Whistle Stop Tour. Here in Ellensburg, we learn about local suffrage leader Emma Smith DeVoe who lived in nearby Thorp and visit a statewide virtual cemetery!

Exhibit updates are underway at our Museum. If you could have us put up a display on any topic related to Kittitas County history, what would you like to see?

Did you know that the Suffrage Special Whistle Stop Tour is off and running? The first stops at Spokane and Pasco are live and new stop videos are added daily at noon through August 26th. Find out more about the history of women’s suffrage in Washington State by taking a look at the Votes for Women Centennial - Washington State Facebook page or by visiting their YouTube page at https://www.youtube.com/playlist Tomorrow, August 21st, our stop features the history of the Central Washington region with the stories of both North Yakima (present-day Yakima) and Ellensburg!

We're open! And we look forward to seeing everyone again during our regular hours of 10am to 4pm, Monday through Saturday.

We are in Phase 3! That means the Kittitas County Historical Museum can now reopen since museums are included under this phase. We will take today off to get the last little bits ready for you to visit, then OPEN TOMORROW, 6/24 at 10AM!! We cannot wait to see everyone! We're excited to have visitors back, but please follow safety guidelines and protocols during your visit. Please wear a face mask, wash or sanitize your hands, practice safe social distancing through our galler...ies while inside, do not touch artifacts or exhibits (all hands-on items are off display), and limit touching items in our gift shop. Unfortunately some areas do also have limits as well. Please no more than 3 people in the Neon Hallway due to the size of space. The Business Room is closed at this time due to exhibit changes (but it is possible to request access). We also welcome information inquiries, and will do our best to assist you. Thank you for understanding, and we look forward to seeing you soon!!

Check out this great program on "Crossing Historical Boundaries: Yakama War" with Emily Washines, MPA, streaming live tonight (6/16) at 7pm through McMenamins History and Washington State Historical Society.

Yakima architect James Cowan designed the Wells Fargo building in downtown Yakima and Kendall Hall at Yakima Valley College. In Ellensburg, the firm designed the Dr. Devney House on Craig's Hill and Stephens-Whitney Hall at CWU.

Next Wednesday (6/17) at 1pm, join our Museum and Inspire Washington - Opening doors to Science, Heritage, and the Arts for a virtual Cultural Convention in South Central Washington. This meeting is for anyone and any organization in the cultural sector of Kittitas, Yakima, and Klickitat Counties. Learn more below!

We hope everyone is staying safe and healthy. We look forward to seeing everyone soon, when it's okay to gather once again. On Friday, May 1st, Governor Inslee issued an extension to his Stay Home, Stay Healthy proclamation through May 31st, along with plans to reopen businesses around Washington (with Phase 1 beginning May 5th). Museums are listed under Phase 3 of the Safe Start Washington economic reopening plan, and we will be waiting patiently for Kittitas County and Was...hington State to reach that stage -- so individuals can once again enjoy our cultural institutions in a safe and healthy manner. Until we reach Phase 3, our Museum will remain closed to the public. For those interested in Kittitas County history, staff are still working hard behind the scenes and are able to research and answer questions. Please feel free to message us here with your questions or send an email to [email protected] Thanks, stay safe, and we'll see you again soon!

Check out this great photograph from our friends at the Washington State Archives of snow removal on Snoqualmie Pass, taken 99-years ago today (4/17/1921)! Back then, it took nearly 4-5 months to clear the pass. In recent years, Snoqualmie Pass has closed typically to clear collisions and for avalanche control. These closures combined each year have not lasted more than 120 hours for an entire winter season, according to WSDOT records. Find out more about historic pass closures at https://www.wsdot.com/winter/snoqualmie-snowfall.htm

We hope everyone is staying safe and healthy! We just heard that the #stayathome order has been extended through May 4th -- and we hope to be back to normal operating hours along with all of you in early May. We'll see you all again then!! Additionally, staff are staying busy, working on research inquiries and collection documentation. If you have questions about Kittitas County history, please message us or email [email protected]!

We love our Ellensburg Blue Agates! And we love Nick Zentner's presentations -- especially on them!! Tonight (3/22/2020), Nick livestreamed on his YouTube channel a special presentation which included new research on the blues formation and we wanted to share it. So be sure to check it out and learn more about the unique stone that can only be found in Kittitas County.