4Culture Announces 2009 Heritage Cultural Facilities Recipients
As part of the 2009 Heritage Cultural Facilities awards, the 4Culture Board granted the Issaquah History Museum $18,000 to rehabilitate their Weyerhaeuser caboose, which currently stands vacant outside the Issaquah Depot. The museum will contract with the Northwest Railway Museum to repair exterior and interior elements of the 1942 caboose, originally constructed by Southern Pacific and later purchased by Weyerhaeuser for use in its logging operations. The Issaquah Historical Museum acquired the caboose in 1990, and made some intermediate repairs. This recent award will go towards stabilization of the caboose, so that the museum can use it as an educational resource and interpretive space.
A total of 11 projects were awarded funds from this year’s 4Culture’s Heritage Cultural Facilities Program, including new sound equipment for the Northwest African American Museum and security system upgrades for the Museum of Flight. The program is designed to enhance the cultural life of county citizens by funding the purchase, design, construction, and remodeling of heritage facilities, and the purchase of equipment intended to be used for at least 10 years. A total of $328,835 in program funds will be distributed throughout King County to heritage-related projects.
Heritage Cultural Facilities Awards for 2009:
| Organization Name | Project Title | Award |
| The Center for Wooden Boats | Preserving Access to the Water-front and Historic Small Craft | $44,440 |
| Densho: The Japanese American Legacy Project | Visual History Preservation & Delivery Infrastructure | $35,000 |
| Historic Seattle Preservation and Development Authority | Washington Hall Rehabilitation | $40,000 |
| Issaquah History Museum | Rehabilitating the Weyerhaeuser Caboose | $18,000 |
| The Museum of Flight | Museum Physical Security Facility Improvements | $8,000 |
| Northwest African American Museum | Legacy Gallery Phase II Upgrade | $36,395 |
| The Northwest Railway Museum | Train Shed exhibit building | $40,000 |
| Southwest Seattle Historical Society/Log House Museum | Oral history equipment | $3,000 |
| Vashon Park District | Pt. Robinson Lighthouse Window Restoration | $24,000 |
| White River Valley Museum | Utility Improvements for Mary Olson Farm | $50,000 |
| Wing Luke Asian Museum | Collections Preservation System | $30,000 |
Unforeseen Opportunities (Emergency Facilities Requests) Funding
Earlier this year, the 4Culture board of directors approved emergency funding in the amount of $50,000, for the Northwest Railway Museum to repair track damage from the January flood ($50,000). The request was made through the Heritage Cultural Facilities Emergency and Unforeseen Opportunity program and reviewed by the Heritage Advisory Committee before being recommended to the 4Culture Board.
Photo: Weyerhaeuser caboose, Courtesy of Issaquah History Museum
