Jefferson County Historical Society

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Jefferson County Historical Society The newly reimagined Museum of Art + History is open through December 31!

JCHS serves residents and visitors across Jefferson County, WA with arts and heritage experiences through programs, exhibitions, research, and more. JCHS Mission: Through collections, research, exhibits, and programs, we bring people together to share, learn, and be inspired by Jefferson County arts and heritage.

Have you checked out our newest art exhibition yet?“Understories,” featuring sculptures by Gardiner artist John Strohbeh...
10/16/2026

Have you checked out our newest art exhibition yet?

“Understories,” featuring sculptures by Gardiner artist John Strohbehn, is now on view in the Ferguson Gallery at the JCHS Museum of Art + History. Spanning more than a decade of carving wood and stone, the exhibition explores the relationship between artist and material.

Also on view through 12/31: “Home/Made: Port Townsend’s Community Print Shop.”

• Visit the Museum of Art + History Thursday – Sunday, 11AM – 4PM
• 540 Water St., Port Townsend
• Learn more about our exhibits and programs at jchsmuseum.org.

Did you know there are several ways to visit the JCHS Museum of Art + History for free?Year-round waived admission is av...
10/14/2026

Did you know there are several ways to visit the JCHS Museum of Art + History for free?

Year-round waived admission is available for:
• Youth ages 17 and under
• Jefferson County PreK–12 teachers and paraeducators
• Visitors who receive EBT/SNAP benefits, through our participation in Museums for All, a nationwide museum access program

Plus:

• The museum is free for everyone on the first Saturday of each month, with hours extended hours until 7PM
• Museum guest passes can be checked out from the Port Townsend and Jefferson County libraries, good for free admission for two adults
• And JCHS members always receive free admission, as do members of other participating museums in the NARM and ROAM reciprocal membership programs.

There are lots of ways to visit—come explore!

Learn more about our exhibits, sites, and programs at jchsmuseum.org

October is National Family History Month! 🌳Did you know our region has an incredible resource for exploring family histo...
10/11/2026

October is National Family History Month! 🌳

Did you know our region has an incredible resource for exploring family history? The Jefferson County Genealogical Society (JCGS) has been collecting and preserving genealogical and historical records for more than 42 years! JCGS is a wonderful place to start. Learn more and explore their research resources at https://wajcgs.org/

A BIG thank you to JCGS for sponsoring October's Free First Saturday at the Museum of Art + History! We're grateful for their partnership and all they do to preserve and share our community's history.

A historic hearse, strange taxidermy, and hazardous artifacts - just another day at JCHS! In this interview with KPTZ C...
10/09/2026

A historic hearse, strange taxidermy, and hazardous artifacts - just another day at JCHS!

In this interview with KPTZ Community Tides last month, JCHS Research Center Coordinator Reed Barry takes us behind the scenes at the Research + Collections Center for a tour of some collection highlights, ranging from an 1880s hearse and the original fire tower bell to unusual taxidermy and one of the most dangerous objects in our collections. 👀

Along the way, Reed talks about how JCHS came to be, how objects and archives enter the collection, how we provide public access, archival storage and pest management, his own path to working in collections, and more.

Give it a listen for a behind-the-scenes look at some of the objects we care for, and the work that goes into preserving and providing access to Jefferson County history!

Listen to the interview, then mark your calendars for our annual Research Center Behind-the-Scenes event on November 14th! (More event info at https://www.jchsmuseum.org/programs)

https://www.kptz.org/posts/community-tides-9-01-26

Join JCHS 10/27 - 11/1 for Strange Shadows: Uncanny Tales of Port Townsend, a walking tour through some of the town’s ee...
10/07/2026

Join JCHS 10/27 - 11/1 for Strange Shadows: Uncanny Tales of Port Townsend, a walking tour through some of the town’s eeriest history. We’ll explore unexplained disappearances, UFO sightings, shipwrecks, sea monsters, and other peculiar tales from Port Townsend.

The tour winds through downtown before ending inside the historic jail spaces of the 1892 City Hall for a special interpretive tour.

Dare to walk with us?

Pre-registration required, as this tour sells out. Find all dates, info, and tickets at https://www.simpletix.com/e/strange-shadows-uncanny-tales-of-port-town-tickets-270255

10/05/2026

Save the date for our annual behind-the-scenes tours at the JCHS Research + Collections Center!

JCHS cares for 500,000+ objects and archives, ranging from art, photos, and newspapers to a historic hearse and the original Haller Fountain sculpture.

Once a year, our Research + Collections team offers a special behind-the-scenes look at the collections facility and the work that goes into caring for Jefferson County history.

This year’s annual event is Saturday, November 14, from 12–3 PM. Stay tuned for more details about this year’s theme and format!

Check back for more info at jchsmuseum.org/programs, or be among the first to hear updates by signing up for our e-news at the bottom of the above web page.

We are incredibly honored to have won two awards this month!We are so proud to be recognized by the Washington Museum As...
10/03/2026

We are incredibly honored to have won two awards this month!

We are so proud to be recognized by the Washington Museum Association with a 2026 Award of Excellence in Exhibits for Home: A Living History of Place. This recognition means so much to our team, especially because this exhibit grew from our commitment to creating a museum that reflects the many people, stories, and experiences that shape Jefferson County. We're proud of the work we've done together and, most of all, proud to create something of value for our community!

We are also elated to announce being voted Best Museum AND Best Place to Impress an Out-of-Towner by the Peninsula Daily News! Thank you so much to every one who voted for JCHS!

It’s Free First Saturday at the Museum of Art + History! Enjoy free admission all day. Open 11AM – 7PM. This month's Fre...
10/03/2026

It’s Free First Saturday at the Museum of Art + History! Enjoy free admission all day. Open 11AM – 7PM.

This month's Free First Saturday is generously sponsored by the Jefferson County Genealogical Society. They will be tabling at the museum - come say hi and learn about their work and the genealogical resources they offer!

Learn more about the Museum of Art + History, exhibits, and our upcoming programs (like Halloween walking tours!) at jchsmuseum.org.

Have you checked out our fall Community Gallery exhibition yet?“Home/Made” showcases work by members, students, and inst...
10/01/2026

Have you checked out our fall Community Gallery exhibition yet?

“Home/Made” showcases work by members, students, and instructors of the Port Townsend Community Printshop, highlighting the creativity, experimentation, and collaboration that thrive within this volunteer-run arts space. From first-time printmakers to seasoned professionals, these artists demonstrate what can emerge when people come together to create, share knowledge, and support one another.

• JCHS Museum of Art + History
• 540 Water St., Port Townsend
• Thursday – Sunday, 11AM – 4PM

Featured here: screen print by Claire Ragland

Learn more at https://www.jchsmuseum.org/exhibitions

THIS WEEK: What’s the connection between famous author Jack London and Port Townsend? Is there one? And how do we know?J...
09/28/2026

THIS WEEK: What’s the connection between famous author Jack London and Port Townsend? Is there one? And how do we know?

Jack London—author of “The Call of the Wild” and “White Fang”—is at the center of a long-standing local legend: that he once spent a night in the Port Townsend City Hall jail. But did it really happen?

Join JCHS staff as we trace London’s possible path through Port Townsend and dig into the evidence behind the story. We’ll follow the research trail through archival records, while exploring the role of Port Townsend during the 1890s Yukon Gold Rush era.

Along the way, you’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to investigate a local story: following leads, weighing evidence, navigating gaps in the historical record, and discovering what the archives can—and sometimes can’t—tell us about the past.

• Thursday, October 1
• 6:30–7:45 PM | Doors open at 6:15 PM
• Northwest Maritime Center
• Suggested donation: $12
• Pre-registration strongly encouraged
• More info + tickets at https://www.simpletix.com/e/lore-london-the-un-definitive-story-tickets-287690

Photo credits: JCHS (street scene); The Huntington Library (portrait)

Address

540 Water Street
Port Townsend, WA
98368

Opening Hours

Thursday 11am - 4pm
Friday 11am - 4pm
Saturday 11am - 4pm
Sunday 11am - 4pm

Telephone

+13603851003

Website

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