View source for Washington State History Museum

{{Short description|Washington history museum in Tacoma, Washington}}
{{hatnote|For the Seattle museum formerly known as the Washington State Museum, see [[Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture]]}}
{{Use American English|date=August 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox museum
| name                = Washington State History Museum
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| logo                = 
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| image               = WA State Hist Museum 04.jpg
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| coordinates         = {{coord|47|14|42|N|122|26|10|W|format=dms|display=inline,title|type:landmark_region:US-WA}}
| former_name         = 
| established         = 1996
| dissolved           = <!-- {{End date|YYYY|MM|DD}} -->
| location            = 1911 Pacific Avenue<br />[[Tacoma, Washington]], U.S.
| type                = [[History museum]]
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| founder             = 
| director            = Nicholas Vann<ref name="WSHS Contact August 2025">{{cite web |title=Contact |website=Washington State Historical Society |url=https://www.washingtonhistory.org/contact/ |access-date=2025-08-18}}</ref>
| president           = 
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| chairperson         =
| curator             = Gwen Whiting<ref name="WSHS Contact August 2025"/>
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| network             = 
| website             = [https://www.washingtonhistory.org washingtonhistory.org]
| embedded            = 
}}
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The '''Washington State History Museum''' is a [[history museum]] located in downtown [[Tacoma, Washington|Tacoma]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]], United States. It is operated by the [[Washington State Historical Society]] under the official approval of the [[Washington State Legislature]]. The museum opened on August 10, 1996, at a building adjacent to historic [[Union Station (Tacoma, Washington)|Union Station]] that cost $42&nbsp;million to construct.

==History==
Designed by the postmodern architect Charles Moore who "insisted that buildings reflect their setting and their purpose".{{R|Moore}} Opened in August 1996, the state spent five years in construction and preparing for the grand opening.{{R|Opening}}

The grounds of the museum are set in a garden that reflects "the character of the entire state" with "dramatic circles and slopes ... sweeping circular ramp [which] suggests a [[Cascade Range|Cascade mountain]] switchback, while a dished-out amphitheater seating over 200 people represents the [[Puget Sound]]".{{R|Landscape}}

==Exhibits==

===Permanent exhibits===

Permanent exhibits feature [[Boeing]] history, a Southern [[Coast Salish]] [[plank house]], maritime history and information about [[George Vancouver]].{{R|Opening}} Artifacts from the [[Clovis culture]] are the oldest objects to be found in the museum.{{R|artifacts}}

The top floor is also home to the state's largest permanent [[model train]] layout, which covers {{convert|1,700|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} and recreates scenes from Tacoma's [[Union Station (Tacoma, Washington)|Union Station]] (which is located next to the museum) and other regional railroads. The museum hosts an annual Model Train Festival in December.{{R|Train 2018}} Model train clubs set up "elaborate displays" in the museum, the festival runs until the first week of January.{{R|train display}}

===Temporary exhibits===

In 2000 the museum celebrated the 100th anniversary of [[Mount Rainier National Park]] with the exhibit "Sunrise to Paradise: The Story of Mount Rainier National Park". The 5,500 square foot exhibit showed the park as an active icon in the natural world, as well as its cultural significance in the region.{{R|Rainier 1999}}

The traveling exhibit of Native American [[quilts]] from 1920 to 1996 was a temporary exhibit at the museum in July 2000. The quilts were displayed in settings such as on beds to showcase the stories depicted on each quilt. The exhibit was called "To Honor and Comfort: Native Quilting Traditions" and featured 45 North American and Hawaiian quilts.{{R|quilt}}

== Gallery ==
<gallery>

File:WA State Hist Museum 24.jpg|Exhibit on aircraft manufacture
File:Washington State History Museum shop 01.jpg|Museum shop
File:Washington State History Museum Indian baskets 01.jpg|Exhibit of Native American basketry and some other implements
File:Washington State History Museum Arch (Tacoma, Washington).jpg|Museum Arch (Tacoma, Washington)
File:WA State Hist Museum 05.jpg|Washington State History Museum
File:WA State Hist Museum 31.jpg|Washington State History Museum lobby. The vaulted roof reflects the nearby Union Station

</gallery>

==References==
<references>

<ref name="Train 2018">{{cite web |last1=Sailor |first1=Craig |title=Honey, I shrunk Tacoma, Union Station and the kids |url=https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/article223334120.html |website=thenewstribune.com |publisher=The News Tribune |access-date=11 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181224023719/https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/article223334120.html |archive-date= December 24, 2018 |quote=Union Station was painstakingly reproduced down to the smallest railing and windowpane. Copper shields on the salad bowl-sized domed roof look like the real ones, only much smaller. One half-inch tall passengers unload luggage from cars.}}</ref>

<ref name="Rainier 1999">{{cite news |title=Story of Mt. Rainier National Park Told |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7iUfAAAAIBAJ&dq=%22Washington+State+History+Museum%22&pg=PA3&article_id=4930,4367221 |access-date=12 August 2023 |publisher=Ellensburg Daily Record |date=February 26, 1999 |quote=The crown of "Sunrise to Paradise" will be an interpretive Palomar ice environment designed by ... artist Dale Chihuly ... instead of a literal reconstruction of ice caves, the work is the artist's interpretation of the icy mountain.}}</ref>

<ref name="quilt">{{cite news |last1=McNally |first1=Shana |title=History in Patchwork |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=amRWAAAAIBAJ&dq=%22Washington+State+History+Museum%22&pg=PA8&article_id=4749,3198438 |access-date=11 August 2023 |publisher=The Spokesman-Review |date=July 5, 2000 |quote=The Washington History Museum is the fifth of the seven stops for the quilts}}</ref>

<ref name="Landscape">{{cite news |title=Landscape for museum OK'd |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DcIjAAAAIBAJ&dq=%22Washington+State+History+Museum%22&pg=PA10&article_id=5293,2602883 |access-date=12 August 2023 |publisher=Moscow-Pullman Daily News |date=January 28, 1993 |page=10}}</ref>

<ref name="Opening">{{cite news |last1=Associated Press |title=Washington history museum opens |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=h88qAAAAIBAJ&dq=%22Washington+State+History+Museum%22&pg=PA31&article_id=2663,3828449 |access-date=13 August 2023 |publisher=Moscow-Pullman Daily News |date=August 8, 1996}}</ref>

<ref name="Moore">{{cite news |title=Death |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5bozAAAAIBAJ&dq=%22Washington+State+History+Museum%22&pg=PA13&article_id=4439,5460692 |access-date=14 August 2023 |publisher=Gainesville Sun |date=December 18, 1993}}</ref>

<ref name="artifacts">{{cite news |title=Did you know... |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bSkfAAAAIBAJ&dq=%22Washington+State+History+Museum%22&pg=PA10&article_id=4706,11048851 |access-date=14 August 2023 |publisher=Ellensburg Daily Record |date=December 29, 2001}}</ref>

<ref name="train display">{{cite web |last1=Adams |first1=Sheri |title=We Bet You Didn't Know There Was A Miniature City In Washington |url=https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/washington/miniature-wonder-wa/ |website=onlyinyourstate.com |publisher=Only in your state |access-date=13 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230814025756/https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/washington/miniature-wonder-wa/ |archive-date=14 August 2023 |date=May 11, 2023}}</ref>

</references>

{{Museums in Puget Sound}}
{{Washington}}
{{U.S. state history museums}}
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[[Category:Buildings and structures in Tacoma, Washington]]
[[Category:Historical society museums in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:History museums in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Institutions accredited by the American Alliance of Museums]]
[[Category:Museums in Tacoma, Washington]]
[[Category:State historical societies of the United States]]