Fox Island Historical Society in Tacoma, WA
Fox Island Historical Society is a small nonprofit dedicated to preserving the rich history of Tacoma’s Fox Island. With a wide variety of activities and events, there is something for everyone. Among their many projects are Legacy Documentaries which will preserve the memories of those who call Fox Island home to educate future generations about the island’s heritage.
Fox Island Historical Society is located at 1017 9th Avenue Court Fi, Fox Island, WA 98333, United States. It was founded as a nonprofit organization and educational facility in 1897 by the local community to honor its history and culture. The museum houses exhibit historical significance, including Native American artifacts from Nisqually Indians, shipwrecks that occurred around the island’s shores, war memorabilia such as civil war swords, bayonets, guns, etc.; logging equipment used for transporting logs across waterways using cables and steam machinery. Some of these items are more than 100 years old! Visitors can also listen to stories told by previous residents who lived during World War II-era or attend lectures about life at Fox Island before WWII happened. If you want your children to have a fun and educational experience, consider visiting this museum.
About the Fox Island Historical Society
The Fox Island Historical Society is a nonprofit organization established to promote and support the historical society, library, and museum on Fox Island. The mission of this neighborhood center is apparent: “To collect, preserve, interpret and share the history of our island community.” If you are looking for an affordable way to help your local history efforts through donations or fundraising events, this could be a great option as well.
The society was founded in 1976 with no dues, income, or funding. Today they have over 500 members worldwide who contribute financially for equipment and services needed by the group to carry out its mission statement: “To promote an active interest in local historical research; To provide facilities where reports may be filed, preserved and made available for study; And to stimulate widespread participation of all citizens in community activities.” What started as one woman’s desire has grown into a team effort encompassing many generations on both sides of Puget Sound. Their new home features two large workspaces filled with maps, books, and records from years of collecting and organizing.
Facts About the Fox Island Historical Society
The Fox Island Historical Society was founded in 1897 and is dedicated to Tacoma history’s research, preservation, and presentation. The mission for this organization includes: collecting historical materials; sharing information with others through open houses, educational programs, and special events; encouraging people to preserve their family histories using original documents as a resource, providing library reference service on local history topics at no charge.
The historic building for this nonprofit organization offers an intimate setting where visitors can enjoy exhibits from over 40 different collections, including photographs, maps, newspapers/periodicals, artifacts, along document archives.
In addition to these items, the facility has been home to many other organizations, such as a center for social services dating back to 1939, which included a daycare program until 1998, when it was relocated. From this point forward, volunteers decided to continue with the infant/toddler daycare program. They established it as a nonprofit organization in 2002, which was named the Fox Island Children’s Center, Inc. Another historical building addition is located next door and has been used for many different organizations such as:
- Boys Club (1958);
- Meals on Wheels (1973),
- Senior Nutrition Program; Community Transport Service(2000) and
- Lifelong Learning Association of South Puget Sound (2002).
Today, the leading property remains an active location, offering available meeting rooms and classroom space that local community groups often utilize, including Tacoma Art Museum Friends group, New Day Northwest adult education classes, and Parent-Child Home Program classes.
Activities in Fox Island Historical Society
Fox Island Historical Society in Tacoma, WA, is a museum that features exhibits and collections about the history of Fox Island. The society preserves historic homes, schools, churches, and other buildings to tell how people lived on this island over time. Visitors can check out an entire collection from one family who lived here for decades or wander through several restored historic structures inside the property, including an 1880s Victorian home built by one of its first settlers; cottages such as those where fishers used to live; schoolhouses like the 1917 building made with bricks hand-made on-site; barns housing vintage cars and farm equipment; even underground tunnels dug by early miners searching for coal. There are also 19th-century gardens open seasonally throughout the summer months.
The museum houses exhibit historical significance, including Native American artifacts from Nisqually Indians, shipwrecks around the island’s shores, war memorabilia such as civil war swords, bayonets, guns, etc., logging equipment used for transporting logs across waterways using cables and steam machinery. Some of these items are more than 100 years old! Visitors can also listen to previous residents who lived during the WW II era or attend lectures about life on the island.
They also have a library and archive of historical documents located at their headquarters on the island. The society provided educational programs, tours, and lectures to local students and adults about Tacoma’s history, including its military history during World War II when there was an anti-aircraft training center for soldiers from Fort Lewis. Their collection includes photographs from both World Wars, records documenting the daily lives of families who lived on the island before it became home to large industries after WWII, historical maps that show how much has changed since then, and more.
What to See on Fox Island Historical Society?
The first thing you will notice about this place when arriving by car is that it looks like a typical farm and there’s no sign of any historical society there! The building does look interesting, though, with its heavy wooden beams and weathered appearance, almost as if it was built in the early 1900s too. What you’ll find most fascinating about this organization is their collection; they have preserved artifacts from around Puget Sound such as old photographs, paintings, vintage clothing, etc., and also tools used by farmers during those days or even an antique piano which has been restored for visitors to play on weekends! Of course, these do not include the one-of-a-kind items like the only pair of spectacles used by Abraham Lincoln during his presidential campaign.
In addition to the Fox Island Historical Society’s exhibits, visitors can check out a display on World War II that includes artifacts from the war and stories of some of those who served. There is also an exhibit on Washington state history in general called “Washington Then & Now: A History Lesson In Pictures,” which explains important events throughout our past with photographs taken during or after each event occurred. If you are curious about local Native American tribes, there is a collection dedicated to them as well!
No matter what your area of interest may be, chances are it will be covered at this Tacoma museum. Thanks to its positive reviews online, visitors have been coming here for years, and attendance rates don’t seem likely to decline anytime soon either!
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