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Monday 10am - 4pm Tuesday 10am - 4pm Wednesday 10am - 4pm Thursday 10am - 4pm Friday 10am - 4pm Saturday 10am - 4pm

Kittitas County Historical Museum

Name: Kittitas County Historical Museum
Address: 114 E 3rd Avenue, Ellensburg, WA, 98926, US
Telephone: +15099253778
Price range: $

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Kittitas County Historical Museum

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Collecting, preserving, and sharing the history of Kittitas County, Washington (USA), since 1961.

The Kittitas County Historical Museum is a non-profit 501(c)3 museum dedicated to collecting and preserving materials which may help establish, illustrate, and educate about the history of Kittitas County. More information about the museum can be found on its website at http://www.kchm.org

10/20/2026

🪶 𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐩 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤!

We're looking forward to another evening of beadwork, conversation, and community at the Kittitas County Historical Museum! Join us 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟔, 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝟔–𝟖 𝐏𝐌 for our next Beading Beauties gathering.

Whether you're working on a familiar project, trying something new, or simply looking forward to spending time with friends, there's a place for you around the table. These gatherings are an opportunity to share knowledge, exchange ideas, build friendships, and enjoy the company of others who appreciate working with their hands.

Rooted in Indigenous knowledge and living traditions, Beading Beauties — Monthly Beadwork Circle 𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 Ellensburg School District 𝐈𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐤𝐢́𝐢𝐧 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐠𝐞 & 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 and is open to everyone, regardless of experience.

Bring your own project and materials, and come spend the evening with us. Familiar faces and newcomers are always welcome!

🪶 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟔 | 𝟔–𝟖 𝐏𝐌
📍 𝐊𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐲 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐮𝐦 | 𝟏𝟏𝟒 𝐄 𝟑𝐫𝐝 𝐀𝐯𝐞, 𝐄𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐠

10/16/2026

🌿 𝐒𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐞𝐝𝐚𝐫 𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐖𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩? 𝐃𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐨𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠!

Our October 24–25 workshop weekend is filling up, but there are still spaces available! Join Pat and Diana Dunn and Donna McNeil for a weekend of hands-on learning, creativity, and conversation at the Kittitas County Historical Museum.

From cedar or dentalium earrings to bracelets, headbands, baskets, and more, there's a wonderful variety of projects to choose from. Beginners are welcome, and all materials are included!

🍂 𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐟-𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬: $35–$85
🍂 𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥-𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬: $100
🍂 𝐎𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝟏𝟓 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧!

And don't forget, 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲-𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟖! Save $10 on your kit when you register by the deadline. CWU student and multiple-project discounts are also available. Discounts cannot be combined on the same kit; prices are subject to sales tax.

𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐬? Find the registration link in the first comment below to explore the projects, see available sessions, and submit your request.
We'd love to have you join us around the weaving table! 🌿

𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬? Give us a call at 509-925-3778 or email [email protected]. We're happy to help!

10/14/2026

🌿 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞? 𝐀 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬? 𝐀 𝐰𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐜𝐞𝐝𝐚𝐫 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐞𝐭? 𝐌𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐯𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞?

Our 𝐂𝐞𝐝𝐚𝐫 𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐖𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩 returns October 24–25, and registration is now OPEN!

Join us at the Kittitas County Historical Museum for a weekend of creativity, conversation, and hands-on learning with 𝐏𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐃𝐮𝐧𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐚 𝐌𝐜𝐍𝐞𝐢𝐥, all members of the Samish Indian Nation.

Choose from cedar or dentalium earrings, bracelets, headbands, basket necklaces, small baskets, and cell-phone holders. Whether you're trying weaving for the first time or returning to build your skills, beginners and experienced weavers alike are welcome!

🍂 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭. 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧.

Some projects take just one three-hour session, while others offer a full day of weaving. This year, you'll choose your projects when registering, and Museum staff will help coordinate your selections and availability.

𝐒𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐲 & 𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟒–𝟐𝟓
Morning sessions: 9 AM–12 PM
Afternoon sessions: 1–4 PM
Lunch break: 12–1 PM (on your own)

𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐬:
• Half-day projects: $35–$85
• Full-day projects: $100 (just $50 per session!)
• All materials and instruction included.

Workshop prices reflect the rising cost of cedar and other materials, while helping support the artists who share their knowledge and skills.

𝐀 𝐟𝐞𝐰 𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐚𝐯𝐞!
🌿 Early bird: $10 off each kit when you register by Sunday, October 18.
🌿 CWU students: $10 off each kit with a valid student ID.
🌿 Weekend bundle: book more than one kit, or register with friends or family, and save $20 on your second kit ($10 if it's a $35 earring kit), once per group.

One discount per kit; discounts cannot be combined. Prices are subject to 8.6% sales tax.

𝐎𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝟏𝟓 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧, so don't wait too long to choose your favorite project!

👉 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞? 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐰!

Registration works a little differently this year because some projects require multiple sessions. Simply submit your project selections, and Museum staff will review availability before emailing a Square invoice, generally within one business day. Your space is held for three days after the invoice is issued and confirmed once payment is received.

Questions? Call 509-925-3778 or email [email protected]. Children ages 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult.

𝐖𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧'𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞!

Presented in partnership with the Ellensburg School District Ichishkíin Language & Native American Culture Program, with support from the 2026 Kittitas County Lodging Tax Grant.

10/08/2026

𝐀 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐠 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐜 𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐂𝐫𝐚𝐰𝐥! 🍻

For those who have been wondering, there won't be a Historic Pub Crawl this October, but don't worry, it's not going away!

With full schedules all around, the Museum and our partners decided it was best to sit this October out. Instead, we're looking ahead to 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟕, with some ideas brewing for how we can bring even more to the experience!

We're exploring ways to build on what people already loved: the history and stories, the food and drinks, and all the fun of spending an evening together in downtown Ellensburg. We're thinking about how to give each stop a little more depth, with more time for the stories, more to enjoy along the way, and a few added touches to the evening itself.

We want to keep everything that made the Ellensburg Historic Pub Crawl such a great time while giving it a little more room to grow.

We're excited to see where these ideas take us and look forward to welcoming everyone back in 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟕!

Stay tuned. There's more history to drink in. 😉

10/07/2026

𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞, 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬.

This afternoon, the Museum is hosting 𝐾𝑛𝑜𝑤𝑙𝑒𝑑𝑔𝑒 𝐾𝑒𝑒𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑠: 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑣𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝐼𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑔𝑒𝑛𝑜𝑢𝑠 𝑇𝑒𝑐ℎ𝑛𝑜𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑖𝑒𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐶𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 as part of the PLACES Conference, led by our friends and longtime partners 𝐒𝐢𝐚 𝐀𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐁𝐮𝐟𝐢.

For many in our Museum community, Sia and Janine need little introduction. Through our partnership with the Ellensburg School District 𝐈𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐤𝐢́𝐢𝐧 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐠𝐞 & 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦, they have become familiar faces here through Weaving Circle, Beading Beauties, workshops, demonstrations, exhibits, and other opportunities that bring people together around traditional arts, cultural knowledge, and community.

Today, that ongoing work is reaching a different audience. Registered PLACES attendees are spending the afternoon learning with Sia and Janine about the preservation of Indigenous technologies and culture, with conversation and a hands-on coiled beadwork project bringing those ideas together.

We’re grateful for the relationships that make programs like this possible, and especially for Sia and Janine’s continued willingness to share their knowledge, experience, and time with others. It means a great deal to see that work continue here today with people visiting Ellensburg from communities around the state.

𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬. 𝐃𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐑𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐬.

10/06/2026

𝐀 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐠 𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐭!

Thank you to everyone who joined us today for 𝑻𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑫𝒐𝒘𝒏𝒕𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝑬𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒃𝒖𝒓𝒈 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝑨𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝑰𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒕𝒚, part of the PLACES Conference here in Ellensburg.

Led by local historian Mike McCloskey, with Sadie Thayer helping guide the group and adding to the conversation along the way, the tour took attendees through historic downtown to look more closely at how Ellensburg rebuilt after the Great Fire of 1889 and how those decisions still shape the downtown we know today.

And that really was the heart of the tour: looking up, looking closer, asking questions, and reading the history that remains all around us. From familiar buildings and changing streetscapes to the people and businesses connected with them, there is always something more to notice when we slow down and take a closer look.

Thank you to everyone who walked with us, shared observations, and spent part of their PLACES experience exploring downtown Ellensburg. We were glad to share a little of our community and its history with you!

𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬. 𝐃𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐑𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐬.

10/05/2026

🧺 𝐖𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐢𝐫𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭!

We’re looking forward to another evening around the tables 𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭, 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟓, 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝟔–𝟖 𝐏𝐌 at the Kittitas County Historical Museum.

Weaving Circle is a place to work with your hands, visit, share knowledge, and spend time together. Some come with years of experience, others are learning, and some simply bring a project and enjoy the company. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞.

Rooted in Indigenous knowledge, traditions, and community, Weaving Circle is hosted in partnership with the Ellensburg School District 𝐈𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐤𝐢́𝐢𝐧 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐠𝐞 & 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 and is open to all.

Bring your own project and materials, pull up a chair, and join us for the evening. 🧺

📅 𝐓𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭, 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟓 | 𝟔–𝟖 𝐏𝐌
📍 𝐊𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐲 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐮𝐦 | 𝟏𝟏𝟒 𝐄 𝟑𝐫𝐝 𝐀𝐯𝐞, 𝐄𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐠

10/03/2026

𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐮𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤? 𝐀 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐬-𝐮𝐩!

With the 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐄𝐒 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 returning to Ellensburg October 6–8, things will be a little busier than usual around the Museum. We’re pleased to be one of the conference venues and to have worked with organizers to help share the history, places, and knowledge found throughout our community. Some may even remember the conference’s last visit to Ellensburg in 2017, when it was known as RevitalizeWA.

For our regular visitors, 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐮𝐦 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞. We’ll be open Monday–Saturday, 10 AM–4 PM as usual.

Conference sessions and activities will take place in the Museum at different times, 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐖𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲, so access to portions of the Main Room and some displays may be temporarily limited or unavailable while they’re underway. Visitors are still welcome to stop, listen, and observe, with seating and participation set aside for registered conference attendees.

Otherwise, come on in and explore as usual! If historic preservation isn’t something you’ve thought much about before, maybe the extra activity and conversations around the Museum will spark a little curiosity about the places, traditions, and stories all around us.

We’re looking forward to a busy few days of sharing the Museum and our community with PLACES attendees and our regular visitors alike.

𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬. 𝐃𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐑𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐬.

Photo courtesy of Washington Main Street.

09/26/2026

🪶 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐢𝐫𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧!

After our September break, we’re looking forward to welcoming everyone back around the tables at the Museum.

Beading Beauties — Monthly Beadwork Circle 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟖, 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝟔–𝟖 𝐏𝐌, followed one week later by Weaving Circle 𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟓, 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝟔–𝟖 𝐏𝐌.

(And for those who are new to the gatherings, or just need a reminder, Beading Beauties meets on the 4th Monday of each month, and Weaving Circle on the 1st Monday, except on holidays or as otherwise posted.)

These evenings are about more than the projects in our hands. They’re a chance to sit together, visit, learn from one another, share knowledge, and spend time in community. Some people have been coming for a while, while others may be joining us for the first time. There’s room at the table for both.

Rooted in Indigenous knowledge, traditions, and community, 𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐢𝐫𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 through our partnership with the Ellensburg School District 𝐈𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐤𝐢́𝐢𝐧 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐠𝐞 & 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦. That connection with our local schools, families, and community helps make the Museum a place not only for preserving stories, but for gathering, building friendships, and keeping traditions alive.

Bring a project you’re working on and your own materials, whether that’s beadwork, weaving, or another handwork project, and come spend the evening with us.

🪶 𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬: Monday, September 28 | 6–8 PM
🧺 𝐖𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐢𝐫𝐜𝐥𝐞: Monday, October 5 | 6–8 PM
📍 Kittitas County Historical Museum | 114 E 3rd Ave

09/20/2026

𝟔𝟓 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐊𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐲 𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲. 🎉

On 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟎, 𝟏𝟗𝟔𝟏, the Kittitas County Historical Society was officially established.

The idea had been growing for decades. As early as the 1930s, people in Kittitas County were concerned that pieces of the community’s history were disappearing. By the late 1950s, local newspaper articles were encouraging people to save meaningful objects, record memories, and preserve what might otherwise be lost.

Then, in 1961, that concern became an organization. The new Historical Society issued 200 charter membership cards and elected its first 11-member Board of Directors. Its first museum wasn't the nearly 9,000-square-foot Museum we know today. It was a single basement room in the Morris Sorensen Memorial Hospital, where the Society began holding public open houses in 1962.

The collection grew. The Museum moved. Buildings were purchased and connected. Thousands of objects, photographs, documents, and stories were entrusted to our care. And generations of members, volunteers, donors, staff, visitors, researchers, and community partners have each played a part in carrying that work forward.

𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐊𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐲 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐬 𝟔𝟓.

Much has changed since September 20, 1961. But the reason for doing the work remains remarkably familiar: 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭, 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲, 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐊𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐲.

Here’s to 65 years of saving the things, recording the memories, asking the questions, and sharing the stories that help connect us to this place and to one another.

𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬. 𝐃𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐑𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐬. 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝟏𝟗𝟔𝟏.

Address

114 E 3rd Avenue
Ellensburg, WA
98926

Opening Hours

Monday	10am - 4pm
Tuesday	10am - 4pm
Wednesday	10am - 4pm
Thursday	10am - 4pm
Friday	10am - 4pm
Saturday	10am - 4pm

Telephone

+15099253778

Website

http://www.kchm.org/

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