Orcas Island Historical Museums

Directions Website Contact the museum

Orcas Island Historical Museums Our mission is to educate, inspire, connect and involve our community and visitors in the stewardship of our unique island history.

Create a timeless, personalized message to recognize a loved one, honor a memory, or celebrate something special. Octobe...
10/15/2026

Create a timeless, personalized message to recognize a loved one, honor a memory, or celebrate something special. October 31st is your last chance to order a brick for installation in 2026. Order online or drop by to pick up a form (Wednesday-Sunday, 11am-3pm). https://orcasmuseums.org/product-category/bricks/

Featuring Jesintel: Living Wisdom from Coast Salish Elders Dynamic and diverse, Coast Salish culture is bound together b...
10/13/2026

Featuring Jesintel: Living Wisdom from Coast Salish Elders

Dynamic and diverse, Coast Salish culture is bound together by shared values and relations that generate a resilient worldview. Jesintel—"to learn and grow together"—characterizes the spirit of this book, which brings the cultural teachings of nineteen elders to new generations.

Find this book and more in our reading library at the Eastsound museum.

Do you recognize these wagon wheels? We are seeking more information as we prepare to dismantle the Fire Barn located b...
10/10/2026

Do you recognize these wagon wheels? We are seeking more information as we prepare to dismantle the Fire Barn located behind the museum. Artifacts that have been stored inside (mostly oversize items and agricultural equipment) occasionally have missing or incomplete documentation.
To help us review these objects, the Museums encourages you to review the Claims page on our website. This page will feature any unclaimed or unidentified items for a period of 3 months. https://orcasmuseums.org/happenings/claims/

The Brehms family of Deer Harbor pose in their orchard in this photograph taken in 1914. As was the case with other isla...
10/08/2026

The Brehms family of Deer Harbor pose in their orchard in this photograph taken in 1914. As was the case with other island farms and families, picking time at the Brehms orchard brought all hands out to work. Even the youngest could do some chore to help out, and all were expected to contribute to the family effort.

Mona Evans, a lifetime resident of Orcas Island and current member of the Class of 2027 at Whitman College, spent her su...
10/06/2026

Mona Evans, a lifetime resident of Orcas Island and current member of the Class of 2027 at Whitman College, spent her summer making a big impact here at the Orcas Island Historical Museums. While going deeper on local lore, Mona gained practical experience for her History degree. Read about her experience and a special research project at https://orcasmuseums.org/intern-mona-evans/

Enjoy fresh apple c***r from heritage trees on the Village Green during our hands-on c***r pressing on Saturday, October...
10/03/2026

Enjoy fresh apple c***r from heritage trees on the Village Green during our hands-on c***r pressing on Saturday, October 17th from 12:30-2:30pm. NOTE: Bring your own bottle or jar for c***r!

Sample heritage and unique seedling apples with Kwiaht botanist Madrona Murphy and get your mystery apples ID'ed by expert Lori Brakken. Hosted by the Orcas Island Historical Museums with support from the Orcas Island Community Foundation, Girl Meets Dirt, and Orcas Isle C***r.
Orcas Island Community Foundation Girl Meets Dirt ORCAS ISLE C***R Kwiaht
***rpress

Calling all history detectives! Can you help us to identify the original location of this postal counter? Some names lis...
10/01/2026

Calling all history detectives! Can you help us to identify the original location of this postal counter? Some names listed on the original boxes suggest Eastsound.

This postal counter is being evaluated as we prepare to dismantle the Fire Barn located behind the museum. Artifacts that have been stored inside (mostly oversize items and agricultural equipment) occasionally have missing or incomplete documentation. To help us review these objects, the Museums encourages you to review the Claims page on our website. This page will feature any unclaimed or unidentified items for a period of 3 months. https://orcasmuseums.org/happenings/claims/

Volunteers help keep our doors open to the public! We have an urgent need for Front Desk greeters for just two hours per...
09/19/2026

Volunteers help keep our doors open to the public! We have an urgent need for Front Desk greeters for just two hours per week on Thursday & Friday mornings as well as Sundays.
No experience necessary, all training is provided. See the positive impact of your work as guests of all ages are able to access our exhibits.

The Kingfisher canoe now has a custom cover! Thanks to the generosity of our donors last spring, we have a durable can...
09/18/2026

The Kingfisher canoe now has a custom cover! Thanks to the generosity of our donors last spring, we have a durable canvas cover that will protect the 40-foot canoe during storage and travel.
Come see the canoe in person at the *FREE* Family Tides Fall Festival happening this Sunday, September 20th. Learn more at https://orcasfallfest.com/

**Join us for The Great Islands Cleanup - Saturday, September 26, 2026**Although the first "organized" GICU event happen...
09/18/2026

**Join us for The Great Islands Cleanup - Saturday, September 26, 2026**

Although the first "organized" GICU event happened in 2014, our communities have been coordinating cleanups for much longer than that! Thanks to Orcas Island Historical Museums for this great oldie!

"Pictured is part of the 4-H group that participated in the annual 'Raid On Trash'. This group, under the leadership of livestock club leader Louellen McCoy, picked up trash from Orcas to Fowler's Corner. The group, which included the sewing club and horse club, scoured the entire island and collected close to 100 bags of trash. This picture appeared in the June 6, 1978, edition of the newspaper."

Orcas will have additional opportunities for participants starting September 19. Visit https://exchangeorcas.org/next-gicu/ to learn more.

Address

181 Northbeach Road/PO Box 134
Eastsound, WA
98245

Opening Hours

Wednesday 11am - 3pm
Thursday 11am - 3pm
Friday 11am - 3pm
Saturday 11am - 3pm
Sunday 11am - 3pm

Website

, ,

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Orcas Island Historical Museums posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Museum

Send a message to Orcas Island Historical Museums:

Shortcuts

Share

Category