What are the opening hours?

Wednesday 11am - 4:30pm Thursday 11am - 4:30pm Friday 11am - 4:30pm Saturday 11am - 4:30pm Sunday 11am - 4:30pm

Lopez Island Historical Society & Museum

Name: Lopez Island Historical Society & Museum
Address: 28 Washburn Place/P. O. Box 163, Lopez Island, WA, 98261, US
Telephone: (360) 468-2049
Price range: $

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Lopez Island Historical Society & Museum

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The Lopez Island Historical Society collects, preserves & shares local history. Open Wednesday-Sunday, 11:00AM-4:30PM, May-October.

Call or email for a research appointment. The one constant characteristic of history is that things change. We work hard to collect and catalog important items that chronicle Lopez Island history. We make them available to you as exhibits and programs, archives, family records and photos. We help researchers discover long-lost family, and new islanders learn about their new home and neighbors. Our vision is of an exciting, welcoming, educational place to learn family and local history, tell our stories, foster respect for our unique island and culture, and serve as a legacy for future generations.

10/15/2026

*EVENT POSTPONED*

Unfortunately due to unforeseen circumstances we have to postpone this evening's (10/15) Speakers Series program. Keep an eye out for a new date!

Sorry for any inconvenience, and thank you for understanding.

10/13/2026

Did you know that at the heart of the Islander Lopez Resort is a significant piece of PNW midcentury architectural history?

Esteemed architect Paul Hayden Kirk designed what was then the Lopez Inn after a fire burned the original building. At the heart of the burgeoning Pacific Northwest Modernist style, Kirk was tapped to design the local Inn by Frank and Lucille Henderson, the founders of the Henderson Camps/Camp Nor'wester. Kirk had already designed the Lodge at the Camp (notice the similarities), which received international accolades, as well as the Henderson's home near Watmough.

On Thursday, October 15, 6:30PM at Lopez Center for Community and the Arts join historian Dale Kutzera for a presentation on Paul Hayden Kirk's architectural legacy, as well as other PNW Modernist architects on Lopez and beyond.

This talk is free and open to the public with thanks to Humanities Washington

Photo One: Lopez Inn (now Islander Lopez Resort) in 1949. 2017.027.00009
Photo Two: The Lodge at Henderson Camps c. 1950. 2002.001.00585
Photo Three: Dale Kutzera

10/09/2026

This weekend the Lopez School is celebrating it’s 85th Anniversary! Will we see you there?

Kids sitting on a bench — Lisa Chandler, Julie Johnson, Kathy Pool, ? & ? LIHS 2002.001.00067

Cheerleaders circa 1979 — can you help us identify who’s in this photo? LIHS 2012.001.00723

1968 Primary Class Back, L. to R. - Belinda Richey, Grade 1. Greg Fralic, (2), Marti Stickels (3), Peggy Atkinson, (3), Jon Franklin, (2), Teresa Orcutt (2), Deborah Olson, (3), Russell Ward (2). Front row, L. to R. - Stuart Post (1), Wendy Ward (1), Kellie Dillon (1), Chris Cloakey (2), Gary Buffum, (2), Debbie Laddusire (2), Kristi Lund (1), Jodee Olson (1), not shown, Brian Roe (3). LIHS 1985.001.00818

10/08/2026

Don't forget to join us THIS SUNDAY October 11, for our Fourth Annual Heritage Apple Day & Community Press with Kwiaht and the Lopez Island Family Resource Center (LIFRC) Gleaning Program, 1:00PM-4:00PM at the Lopez Museum.

Kwiaht will have heritage apples to taste, LIFRC Gleaning Program is bringing apples, all you have to do is bring your self and a jar to take home juice if you want it!

This event is free and open to the public.

09/29/2026

This is the last week open with our normal hours Wed-Sun, 11am-4:30pm! For the rest of October, we’ll only be open on the weekends, and starting in November we will only be open by appointment. Stop by and say hello before we close!

This is a real color photo of the Richardson General Store in April, 1989 from Charlie Ratcliffe. We recently saw some AI colorized photos of historic places on Lopez, and while a fun way to imagine life, these photos often had some subtle and inaccurate changes — if you want to learn about Lopez in the past, we invite you to explore our collections.

09/27/2026

We can't wait for our next Speakers Series program:

Paul Hayden Kirk and Midcentury Modern NW Architecture, on Thursday, October 15, at Lopez Center!

Discover one of the key figures in Pacific Northwest modernism, who overcame polio as a child and reputational damage during the Red Scare to become the most influential architect our region has yet to produce.

In the mid-20th Century, our state was slow to adopt the modern architectural trends flooding Europe, the East Coast, and California. But smartly, Paul Hayden Kirk blended the clean look of modernism with our region’s tradition of building with wood, and crisp lines with Japanese and Native American influences. This talk explores Kirk’s life, along with examples of his work, to paint a portrait of a true Northwest innovator.

Come learn about Paul Hayden Kirk, who designed the Lopez Inn (now Islander Lopez) and multiple buildings at Henderson Camps/Camp Nor'wester, as well as mentored other influential architects with designs on Lopez.

This event is FREE and open to the public. Special thanks to Humanities Washington for sponsoring this program!

SPEAKER BIO:
Dale Kutzera is the author of Paul Hayden Kirk and the Rise of Northwest Modern, the first monograph on the father of mid-century design in the Pacific Northwest. Kutzera has spent his life largely in the arts sector and entertainment industry.

09/25/2026

It’s that time of year again — we’re making our annual order for the Community Memorial! Please submit your request by September 30. If you have been contemplating honoring someone, now is a great time, as we only order 1-2 times per year. You can fill out the form online, or download it and drop it off to us at the museum.
https://lopezmuseum.org/lopez-island-community-memorial/

09/24/2026

We're so excited to co-host our fourth annual Heritage Apple Day and Community Press on Sunday, October 11, 1-4 PM alongside Kwiaht and the LIFRC Gleaning Program!

Once known as the Fruit Basket of Washington, the San Juan Islands and Lopez have a long history of cultivating orchard fruit. Come learn about and celebrate the diverse and rare array of heritage apple varieties that still thrive on Lopez today.

We will have grinders and presses available for community use, unique varietals to taste, and seasonal treats.

Bring a jug, a mug, and a lug of apples (if you’ve got one) and help us celebrate autumn and biodiversity on Lopez!

Free and open to the public

09/08/2026

Join Leslie Helitsaliga Eastwood (Samish) for a FREE Coast Salish weaving workshop, Thursday, September 10, 1:30PM-4:30PM
Lopez Library, 2225 Fisherman Bay Rd

Space is extremely limited to eight (6) people - RSVP is required. Email [email protected] to RSVP. We fill the workshop on a first come first serve basis until full. If more than 6 people respond, we will do a drawing out of a hat.

Leslie will provide table top looms and instructuction, inviting participants to try some of the basic stitches used in coast Salish weaving like twine and twill and tabby. The end product of the workshop will be a small wall hanging with an eye for beginner, intermediate, and advanced techniques.

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Leslie Eastwood (Samish) carries the ancestral name Helitseliga, and weaves on a traditional upright coast Salish loom, with a focus on regalia for ceremonial purposes. She apprenticed with Rita Louis (Samish/Paquachin), who's woven blankets have been presented to dignitaries of the British Royal Family. Recently Leslie has retired as General Manager of Samish Indian Nation, and provides demonstrations to raise public awareness, and leads wool weaving workshops to promote wool regalia within the Samish community.

09/05/2026

We're so excited for our two Civil War programs this Labor Day weekend!

On Saturday, 9/5, former NPS ranger and author Mike Vouri will give a lecture on the San Juan Islands during the Civil War @ 2:00PM, Lopez Center Church.

On Sunday, 9/6, Interim LIHS Board President, Joe Schwankl will lead a cemetery walk, covering the Civil War veterans who lived and died on Lopez Island @ 1:00PM-3:00PM, Lopez Union Cemetery.

The Museum will be CLOSED EARLY ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY for these events.

Come learn about how Lopez and the San Juan Islands were shaped by this pivotal moment in US history!

Photo One: Tintype of Charles Bartlett wearing his Union uniform
Photo Two: Former NPS ranger and author, Mike Vouri
Photo Three: Interim LIHS Board President, Joe Schwankl

Address

28 Washburn Place/P. O. Box 163
Lopez Island, WA
98261

Opening Hours

Wednesday	11am - 4:30pm
Thursday	11am - 4:30pm
Friday	11am - 4:30pm
Saturday	11am - 4:30pm
Sunday	11am - 4:30pm

Telephone

(360) 468-2049

Website

https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_-iTXgFpNQwqeHfQetuiYLQ, http://lopezmuseum.org/, https://www.youtube.com/wat

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