Gig Harbor Peninsula Historical Society

The history museum is a real gem and a resource for the Gig Harbor Peninsula area. Having been born and raised here, it is so cool to see the photos of what the area was like before my time and up to the present. Who would ever think that the harbor was once frozen over for sledding and ice skating? The photos show a neighbor, as a young boy, skating around the boats that were frozen in the ice. For me, the pictures give me an even deeper sense of belonging right here. Photos aren't the only things in the museum. There are countless items that were used by farmers, fishermen and just everyday folks. One highlight is a restored old fishing boat that people can 'board' to look around and see what a key fishing industry was, and still is, like. Another favorite is the restored schoolhouse where students come to learn what it was like to be a pupil a hundred years ago.

The Harbor History Museum is a fun and informative museum which tells the story of the greater Gig Harbor area. There are many hands-on activities for kids among the interesting and educational displays for adults. This is a gem in Gig Harbor and should not be missed.

Our family had the opportunity to view the Gig Harbor museum when my husband's non profit hosted a meeting there. We thoroughly enjoyed the exhibits- particularly the boats and the pioneer school house. Our daughters commented that they wished the school exhibit was around when they were younger. It reminded all of us of the school exhibit at the Laura Ingalls Wilder Homestead in South Dakota.

The Gig Harbor Historical Society building and museum is the greatest thing that has happened in the last 70 or more years. All done without profit or government. An accomplishment that has not been ever done in this community. It houses the best collection of artifacts and history of the area that has ever been assembled by any group. The preservation of history is very important, for if you do not know from whence you came, you really do not know where you are, and this makes almost impossible to know where to go, for you do not know which direction to take.

Gene

February 1964; the organization that became the Gig Harbor Peninsula Historical Society was formally organized. Within a year, the minutes state that our hope is to have a museum. For 46 years we worked toward that goal, the culmination of which was the opening of the Harbor History Museum. Yes, that's a long time to have, and work toward, a dream, but the results are our beautiful, informative displays, hands-on activities (even adults play with the magnetic wall and its magnet characters) and informative programs. Every step of the way was a learning experience, a challenge that was met "head on" and conquered. The long journey is really not over; there is more to come.

The Harbor History Museum is a wonderful asset to the Gig Harbor area. As a history buff, I was thrilled to see the early history of the area with the Native American art and history recognized. What fun to bring linguistically minded children and have them enjoy the interactive language component. It truly brought the very early history of the Harbor to the present.
The exhibits showing the early settlers of the area are well done and bring those names that we see on the street signs to life.
We appreciated seeing the Shenandoah as we know people who have had the good fortune to travel on her in the waters of Puget Sound.
The school house exhibit is well done. As a former teacher I appreciate the work that has been done to make this an interactive part of the museum as well.
Well done, Harbor History Museum!

As a retired school teacher, I have continued to work with small groups of children in an after school program. The Harbor History Museum has been a favorite destination.
We have studied the ferry Skansonia and the purse seiner Shenandoah. We painted models of both. Through research at the museum we learned the various routes that the old ferry traveled, visited those locations and made a map to show our families. The Shenandoah, the museum's center piece, provided us with knowledge about how a purse seiner fished.
The museum has been a wonderful resource in educating my small groups of children. I have found that through their exposure to Gig Harbor's charming past that their parents have also been learning about their community. Many of their parents had never visited the museum. Now they have.
The Midway School House Program is exceptional and immerses children in the pioneer educational experience complete with books, rules and true-to-life setting of the era. Fabulous.
I appreciate the quality programs that the museum has to offer and also enjoy the warmth, knowledge and kindness that its staff has most graciously shown. Hooray for Harbor History Museum! S.E.E.

Since I was new to the area I did not think the History Museum would be something that I would be interested in, but I have definitely found that not to be true.

I have attended many different functions at the museum and have also visited to see the various exhibits. I was extremely impressed with all I have learned about the area, its past history and its growth.

The museum does a wonderful job of sharing history and making it a very enjoyable and entertaining experience.

I am proud to be a member of a community that made this museum reality! We far exceeded our goal and stayed true to our Mission Statement!

The Harbor History Museum goal was to build a quality museum that was rustic on the outside, but with the major emphasis on the inside with interactive exhibits. From the review and comments of our visitors and public at large, I feel we have accomplished this with authentic interactive/entertaining exhibits.
Since the opening in late Sept, 2010, the first 5 month's attendance has exceeded the old museum annual attendance. In addition, the museum's membership has tripled in this same time frame.

My wife and I were at the museum to look at the Wilkes Expedition Exhibit. As with everything at the museum the exhibit was very well done. The staff has created a number of very informative posters to imform the visitor about The Wilkes Expedition. The staff also provided a number of hands on experiences for the children who visitied the museum. We were fascinated by the amount of informationthat was provided for us to read and the somewhat unusual methods Wilkes used to discipline his crew on the voyage. Top notch job by the staff.

I am a Charter Member of the Gig Harbor Peninsula Historical Society Museum. Gig Harbor is a relatively small town with a big town museum. I was, & am, very impressed with the quality of not only the building but the exhibits. Not only do they have static exhibits but interactive ones too. Community involvement & participation is actively encouraged.

Harbor History museum is a "quality" museum, featuring inter-active exhibits and informational stories telling the history of how our community developed from a very small fishing village to present times.
I feel that the hard work and effort towards building our new museum has definitely helped bring the community together, so that we now have a facility where we can share and preserve these stories and exhibits
for generations to come!

I have volunteered since groundbreaking five years ago. I have watched the museum since it's birth. It was well planned and is coming together to the delight of the community. There is something for everybody. There are hands on activities for all ages, exhibits that foster further study, a pioneer school moved to the site and a teacher who offers real life classes to visiting school children. The museum will be a destination treasure tucked between two historic parks. It couldn't be better.

We visited the new gem in the harbor last week and were so impressed with the permanent exhibit and the newest exhibit "An Excellent Little Bay". What fun to spend time in the Midway School house and try to imagine what the school day in the one room school house was like.

The docents and staff were friendly and very knowledgable and I look forward to return visits to view new exhibits and special events.

We love the Harbor HIstory Museum!! It has helped us learn all about the beginning of our town, and provided a unique, hands-on experience for my kids to really "feel" like they have experience life in early Gig Harbor. I think EVERY student in Gig Harbor and surrounding areas would LOVE the experience the schoolhouse provides. The docents, volunteers and family programs are all awesome. Every visitor from Tacoma to Bremerton would benefit and be impressed from the the depth of displays at the museum.

Our Gig Harbor Peninsula Historical Society Museum is so much fun to visit and bring visitors to! Not only is it a beautiful structure with well-designed galleries, but the in-progress boat restoration and traveling exhibits will keep us returning time after time! The beautifully re-constructed school house takes us back in time to the old Gig Harbor days by it's atmosphere, video testimonies of past students, and items carefully arranged inside. We have attended wonderful talks given by local fishermen and townsfolk, and look forward to attending many more of these special events. We also love the gift shop full of local crafts and momentos from the area and the traveling exhibits! We are so proud of this place and thrilled to have a unique destination to bring our visiting friends and family.

We are so impressed with the new museum in Gig Harbor! The permanent exhibits are interesting and engaging and convey the history and our connection to this place. There's plenty of room for temporary exhibits as well and the two so far have been very interesting. The schoolhouse and the fishing boat are great additions. Having lived near the Midway schoolhouse for more than twenty years we were so happy when we found out that it would have a new life at the museum. Great job!
The staff is welcoming and enthusiastic and we look forward to many more shows. A great place to come with friends and family. Finally a place to take out of town visitors!

I find the Harbor History Museum to be a place that has much to offer the community of Gig Harbor. It has stories, photos, things to do, and is very engaging to the visitor. It is very easy to encourage everyone to come for a visit as I know they will enjoy themselves.

Love the Harbor History Museum, very professional, especially the history of the Narrows Bridge throughout.

The Harbor History Museum is so interesting to visit that you may need to come back because there are so many things to see and hear. For those people that want to learn more there is the Research Room where you can find much more information on people, places and things. Plus many more photographs. Note: Research Room is appointment only.

Become a member and you will be informed of all the special happenings that are going on with the museum. Plus the added benefit of free admission on your return visits.

Become a volunteer and find your skills can be such a help for the many projects going on. If you volunteer you will find your purpose by giving to a very fun and active organization. I did and have been part of this great organization for 10+ years. There are all kinds of skills needed.

I am a recent graduate student with a masters in historical archaeology. I took a museum studies course at university and learned a lot about what is currently going on in museums; how they reach out to the public, how they connect with patrons of all ages and abilities, and how the museum contributes to their communities. The Harbor History Museum impressed me by applying all the things I was learning at school to its programs and exhibits. There is such a wealth of knowlege displayed in photos, videos and hands-on exhibits. The school programs bring history to life by visiting schools as well as bringing them to experience Midway at the museum. The Harbor History Museum is indeed an important asset to the Gig Harbor community.

The museum is a real asset to the community giving locals and visitors a valuable resource of history.
I expected mostly maritime information but was happy to see exhibits on all local history including the natives, the explorers, the immigrants and their successors.
The Midway Schoolhouse is an excellent ingredient.
Permanent and temporary installations give good reasons to return again and again.

I have been thrilled by the continued growth of exhibits, buildings and volunteer involvement in the museum. My children's heritage is in the Gig Harbor area and I am pleased that they have a root there to understand the lives of their grand and great grand parents.

The fishing industry has such a vibrant and essential NW history. Bless the museum for paying attention to it while other museums and organizations in the Seattle area have failed.

My personal favorite at the Gig Harbor museum is its collection of round rocks from the annual round rock festivals back in the 1940's. That alone should place it in many guide books of the area.

Sue Yates

Being new to Gig Harbor I was thirsty for knowledge of its origin. I had stopped in at the Museum, asking many questions. Later I went to an art auction fundraising event they sponsored. Being an artist myself I felt I could volunteer in future art auction fundraisers and simultaneously learn about the heritage of Gig Harbor and surrounding country.

The Museums programs to benefit the community are astounding ... there are planned events for children to its elder residents. Artifacts, videos, talks and other programs encompass all heritages from native american to european settlers.

I have been a member of the Peninsula Historical Society for nearly 40 years. It has grown and matured over that period of time until it is now in a wonderful "hands on" museum that is a joy for all to visit. My grandchildren have enjoyed it, including adding to the 'round rock' collection and marveling over some of the old ways of their relatives.

The school house is a particular joy for me. I sat in desks just like those and though my classroom was never that small, I do feel right at home in that room. I particularly appreciate that program that invites today's students into that classroom so they may compare then and now. Living history is the best way to learn.

Gig Harbor has so many new people that know little or nothing about its history. We are very lucky to have families who have preserved family mementos and have been willing to share them with the community. It is a joy for those whose families share that history and for those of us who moved into the area since the bridge was built.

I became involved with the museum as a volunteer development professional interested in helping the museum gain greater membership and effectiveness in the Gig Harbor Community. I served as the first Capital Campaign Chair and established the "first" Basket Social fundraiser. The event raised $30,000 that first year (8 yrs. ago) and as a testamony to it's effectiveness raised almost $200,000.

The Museum has continued to build on membership at the same time as completing a capital campaign and building a beautiful new exhibit exhibit space that celebrate our roots and cultural history. I am proud to have had a small part in the Museum's history and will continue my involvement as long as I can be of service.

I visited the museum before it opened, on opening day and twice since. Each time it was staffed by enthusiastic and knowledgeable employees and volunteers who took pride in explaining the displays and all aspects of the facility. The hands-on displays are fun for kids as well as adults. One leaves with a better understanding of how Gig Harbor was settled by Native as well as European people, how they lived, and how the maritime economy works. I take all my out-of-town guests there to learn about my new hometown.

We've been to the Harbor History Museum a few times now...each time we find something out that we missed before. The U.S. Flag display was awesome. I hope they can bring it back again someday.

A nice asset for such a small community!

I toured the Harbor History museum shortly after it opened. It's really an excellent small museum. I love the interactive displays and the connection to the maritime history of Gig Harbor. I look forward to when the museum offers more access to the big seiner that is being restored under cover at the back of the museum.

I recently had the pleasure of taking my fourth grade class on a fieldtrip to the Harbor History Museum. My students had the chance to experience a school day in the life of a pioneer student in the Midway School and visit their incredible hands-on galleries. The programs provided by the museum offer a wonderful resource to extend student learning in Washington State History while also providing a local connection. My students were 100% engaged with the experience and can't wait to return with their families.

The opening of the Gig Harbor History Museum has been one of the best additions to our town in decades. It not only tells our story to our visitors, but is a great teaching tool for our youth. The school house exhibit was a great addition. Just being able to walk into it gives you an instant appreciation and respect for what it was like in those earlier times. I think that every student in our district should get to experience it.

Our family loves the Harbor History Museum. The Museum is beautiful and the exhibits have been remarkable. Our girls and I have attended a Halloween function where a nice gal read ghostly ship stories, a fun project where we painted the American Flag on canvas with Local Artist Tracy Richards and even held our 10 year olds birthday party in their multifunction room. The Museum has great hands on exhibits for kids of all ages all through it. Check it out, the museum is definitely worth being a part of in any capacity.

I have recently started volunteering at the Harbor History Museum and have enjoyed the history that it offers for the area where I live. The Midway School offers an amazing opportunity for the young students in the area to experience what it was like during the time the school house was in use. I've read letters from the students that have attended the school and they get so much history from it.

I am at the age where I recognize the importance of gathering history and providing a safe setting information about the past, both personally and in a general community manner. I am a charter member of the museum since October, 2010, when the Grand Opening occurred. I have attended a few presentations and would love to attend more, but I now live far enough away from Gig Harbor that getting there is not something I cannot do often. II did attend a presentation on Feb 17, 2011 by Ed Berntsen. He spoke about the history of Gig Harbor's many communities up to about 1924. He was an excellent speaker,, who is a wellspring of historical information. He was clearly very interested in getting that information out to the public. I lived in Gig Harbor from 1955 -1965 - not a long time to those who have grown up there. I attend the schools from grade 7 to 12. It was a wonderful place to grow up, but I knew little about its history. I had no idea how Gig Harbor came to be until this lecture. It just makes me want to learn more and the museum makes that information available to all members. Just going into the different parts of the museum can take several days. In addition to the exhibits there is a great amount of information stored safely and access to it is readily available to the public. The building is beautiful and it is easy to find your way around it. There are always several volunteers available to provide information if you ask. I believe Gig Harbor has been greatly enhanced by the museum.

I am excited about the Harbor History Museum and what it has to offer the community. It is a wonderful resource for teachers. The museum is a fun way to learn about this communities heritage. Thank you to everyone who helped put this all together. It was well worth all the hardwork.

The museum is a wonderful resource for Gig Harbor "old-timers" and those, like myself, who are new to the area. As a docent, I was present one day when a member of a long-standing Gig Harbor family happened upon a super-enlarged photo of her aunt as a young woman being used as the backdrop for an exhibit. She was so pleasantly surprised!

Please take the word "resource" literally, as the museum offers transcripts of interviews with members of families that built the community, as well as hundreds of photographs, documents, and other materials for private viewing in the aptly-named Resource Room .

When one considers the Midway Schoolhouse Experience offered to students; the opportunity to help in the restoration of the fishing boat, The Shenandoah; and special tours, events, and after-school activities; it's obvious that the Harbor History Museum is much more than a couple of galleries to stroll through. Come be a part of the excitement!

My 4th grade class recently went to the museum and school house for a field trip. It was a great experience. We got to dress up as 1901 students did and had class in the old school house I loved doing the I spy game and watching the galloping Gertie video and seeing the artifacts. I think 4th graders would enjoy it because when we returned to school everyone was saying how fun it was!

The newly completed museum in Gig Harbor is a wonderful addition to our town. It provides children and adults an opportunity to see and experience what it was like in the harbor as the town developed, including, but not limited to, the boating and fishing industries, a schoolhouse for student experiences, and the everyday life of the residents.

As both a Donor and volunteer Docent, I have had the opportunity to see the looks of amazement on the faces of our visitors. With many of these visitors, it is the learning of how diverse our community is in its history. With older residents both present and former, to see the tears in their eyes as they point our a family member, a picture of their original home or farm or business. They open up to talk of their experiences as a child: a 1920 family store and the adventures of rowing to Tacoma to gather supplies; their first time fishing and all the various captains they served with before eventually getting their own boat(s); tales of seeing Galloping Gerties as it starts to temble before collapse. All these stories are generated by the artifacts and exhibits mounted in the museum's new location. The former spaces occupied by the museum since its founding never allowed for the proper display of all the wonderful gifts given us by various families and their members to remember personal histories. How very fortunate we are to have the gifts of all the donors: financially and the personal histories.

The Harbor History Museum is a wonderful additon to our town. I grew up here and now at 75 ,find the museum full of great memories of those times, plus lots of exciting information I didn't know. It holds the interest of all ages, with many hands on exhibits. The Pioneer School House is a unique additon and takes you back to the one room school, in a beautifully restored room. The attention to detail for this school experience for the classes who attend is amazing. Being a part of this school experience is exciting as we help the children discover time in the turn of the century school and also become detectives in the galleries, by finding artifacts and their use.

Harbor History Museum tells our stories - the stories of our families, our lives, our village. The exhibits are beautiful, and so easily transport visitors back in time to our early years in an interactive manner. The exhibits skillfully blend boats, buildings, clothing, artifacts and photographs to guide visitors into a delightful, educational walk down memory lane. History comes alive when we can touch a boat just like Grandpa built, or sit in the classroom where Auntie attended 4th Grade. Thank you to all the tireless volunteers who worked towards this Museum for decades.

the Harbor History Museum exceeded my expectations. It is full of stimulating exhibits that make you want to explore the subject matter.
The material is presented to appeal to all ages. They have retained the wonderful old wood floors of the historical building and brought the history of the Gig Harbor area to life. Definitely worth a trip to Gig Harbor to see what has been created.

As a starting teacher, I am excited about the Harbor History Museum and what it has to offer for school children and families. I know it will be a wonderful resource when I have my own classroom. The museum has been a great way for me to learn about the area in which I was born and raised.

The Harbor History Museum offers excellent opportunities for all ages to learn and explore. The attention to detail and hands-on exhibits make it a “user-friendly” museum with ever expanding programs and ideas for community use and involvement. The Education Programs for elementary children are a unique way for students to have fun while learning and experiencing history in ways not possible in the regular classroom.

Born and raised in other parts of the country, I find the Harbor History Museum to be very informative about this area. I particularly like the benefits of being a charter member with opportunities to attend many special events without additional charges.

Since the Harbor History Museum opened, I have had several opportunities as a Charter Member to visit, participate in the various programs and tour the galleries. The permanent gallery is well designed and informative. The first two temporary exhibits have been excellent. Being able to host Smithsonian traveling exhibits is such a bonus for our area and the current Wilkes Exhibit created in-house is well done and a credit to the hardworking museum staff and volunteers.

I moved to GH in 1950 and have never been more proud of any addition to the community as I am about the Harbor History Museum! The exhibits are excellent and the staff is hardworking and devoted to making and keeping this a first class facility serving our community in numerous ways.

The museum staff has outdone itself in getting the public's attention and interest. Not only are the exhibits artful and creative but the museum has quickly become a major player in the downtown of Gig Harbor. The downtown businesses have been trying to get more people to come in but this staff has come up with marvelous new ideas. The "men's night" is really creative and we're anxious to see how it works out. Also, this never feels like a stuffy museum, but a lively place in which to wander and learn.

This facility has become a family favorite. The concept of hands on exhibits is a key factor in creating interest from young and old alike. We have taken our grandchildren to the museum and watched them push native language keys, pull on purse seine nets, row a boat and locate landmarks with a sliding magnifying glass. Visiting the Midway school and seeing the way classes were conducted over 100 years ago raised some interesting points about today's curriculum and classroom decorum. This is an important addition to our community.

I really liked the Stars and Stripes exhibit, and look forward to seeing the new showing next week. The museum is just big enough to take all in and not feel overwhelmed but at the same time it shares some great Gig Harbor and surrounding areas history. The pieces of the Narrows Bridge (Galloping Gertie) are amazing and touching them is almost emotional! I think having an event there would be over the top! Fun for the kids too!

What an excellent museum! I work as a volunteer at the Harbor History Museum filling a database with photos to go along with descriptions. That way, visitors will be able to search the database for places, names or categories of photos of interest to them. The fact that many of the items on display are hands-on makes this museum is not only unusual but very personal. There are programs for groups of adults as well as classes of school children...something for everyone.

Our family is so excited to have the Harbor History Museum in our town. I have taken friends from out of town and my four year old grandson on several occasions. We were amazed at how many interactive exhibits were available. My grandson moved ships, fish, and people around the magnetic board that depicted the harbor. His imagination was fueled as he used the oars to move a boat, make an etching, and turn the wheel of a ship. He also attended one of the many programs that allowed him to touch and learn about the sea life in puget sound. Our friends and family also enjoyed learning about our heritage. We are of Scandanavian descent and our daughter married a man who is Croatian. These two nationalities primarily settled in the area. We are fortunate to be able to educate our future generations through this museum.