Join the White River Valley Museum in celebrating the grand opening of the Mary Olson Farm June 18th, from 11am to 2pm. Auburn Mayor Pete Lewis will join museum and farm director Patricia Cosgrove for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11:30 a.m. “This has been years in the making, so we are incredibly excited for the grand opening of the Mary Olson Farm,” Mayor Lewis stated in a recent press release.

This is a free event, and all are welcome! Opening-day visitors will have the option of walking around the farm at their leisure or receiving a tour from a volunteer docent. Bring a picnic and make an afternoon of it.

The City of Auburn purchased Mary Olson Farm through the King County Conservation Futures Fund in 1994 and the restoration work started a few years later, following a period of planning. The farm’s restoration budget totaled $1.64 million, of which $1.61 million was raised through City support, donations and grants (including several 4Culture awards through our Preservation & Heritage programs). Today, the Mary Olson Farm is a King County Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Sites. Significant features include an 1897 barn, a fully restored 1902 farmhouse, a century-old orchard, three salmon runs in Olson Creek and a remarkable collection of outbuildings, including a smoke house, outhouse and weaving house. The farm will operate as a living history and environmental learning site, and will also be available for community and special events.

Mary Olson Farm is located at 28728 Green River Road in Auburn. For directions visit www.wrvmuseum.org/Olson_Farm/farm_location.html. This summer, drop-in hours are available from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. during these weekends: June 25 and 26; July 9 and 10, 23 and 24; Aug. 13 and 14, 27 and 28; and Sept. 10 and 11. Admission for the summer drop-in hours is $5 adults, $3 children/seniors and $15 for a household or family. For additional information contact Patricia Cosgrove at pcosgrove[at]auburnwa.gov or 253.288.7437.

Image: Mary Olson Farm orchard and weaving house © 2011. Restored Olson Farm house © 2011. Both images courtesy of the White River Valley Museum.

4Culture is very excited to announce its 5th “Golden Rain Globe” winner for Excellence in Heritage Tourism (ladies & gentlemen, rev your engines) – the Hydroplane & Raceboat Museum! Congratulations to David Williams, Executive Director, and crew for your outstanding work!

Each year, 4Culture’s Award for Excellence in Heritage Tourism is given to a heritage attraction that meets the highest standards of visitor-readiness, sustainability, and authenticity. This year, the Hydroplane & Raceboat Museum was selected for its high quality programming, and authentic promotion and stewardship of unique heritage resources. Visitors are personally shown around the museum by a knowledgeable and energetic docent, and may even be invited to step into the 1967 Miss Budweiser for an imagined speed tour around Lake Washington! (Speed noises are not required but highly encouraged.)

The Hydroplane & Raceboat Museum is the nation’s only public museum dedicated solely to powerboat racing. Formed in 1983, the museum features an incredible collection of vintage hydroplanes, including boats that have won 17 Gold Cups, and a fully equipped boat restoration shop. The museum is also the nation’s primary resource for historical and educational information on hydroplane racing, with an extensive collection of books, magazines, race programs, photos, and over 200 hours of rare films covering hydroplane racing from the 1940s to the present. If you haven’t yet been down to tour their wonderful collection, make a point of doing so soon!

4Culture presented its 5th annual Golden Rain Globe award in conjunction with the 28th annual Association of King County Heritage Organizations (AKCHO) awards program at the Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI) on April 26th. 4Culture would like to thank AKCHO & MOHAI board members and staff for their assistance and support. We would also like to extend a big “CONGRATULATIONS” to all the 2011 AKCHO award recipients! Nice work guys.

Images: Dale Smith (4Culture Board), David Williams, staff and volunteers (Hydroplane & Raceboat Museum) © 2011, courtesy of AKCHO, photo by Kimberly Jacobsen. Miss Wahoo on exhibit at the Hydroplane & Raceboat Museum © 2011, photo by 4Culture staff. Boat races at 2009 Seafair © 2009, courtesy of the Hydroplane & Raceboat Museum.

This post was edited on 5/10/11.

4Culture is pleased to announce the launch of its new Destination Heritage interactive map – a guide to historic attractions all around King County.  This map (project-managed by Brandi Link) features 60 one-of-a-kind sites on a Google-based map, with location/contact info, driving directions, brief history, and things to do in the vicinity.  Whether you’re a visitor to our area, or a local with guests coming to town, check out Destination Heritage to get past the same old touristy draws in Seattle, and discover lesser known gems in outlying areas.

From world-class attractions like the Northwest Railway Museum in Snoqualmie, to best-kept secrets like the evocative Iron Goat Trail near Skykomish, or the very cool Hydroplane & Raceboat Museum in Kent, Destination Heritage has something something for everybody. Our award winning Destination Heritage program includes handsome themed brochures worth keeping, audio clips with extra tidbits for select sites, “in the vicinity” tips for exploring further, and now a new map to show you how to get there. Plan an exploratory outing today, from the comfort of your computer chair!

While online, also check out the first of a 3-part 4CTV documentary series on the Destination Heritage travel guides, which showcases the maritime groups at South Lake Union. In interviews, executive director Betsy Davis and founding director Dick Wagner of the Center for Wooden Boats relate the history of maritime in our region and tell how several organizations are working hard today to keep that history alive and relevant. Click here to view the 23 minute show.

Spring is officially here, which means the days are longer and the weather is… a bit nicer. So chose your favorite destination theme – maritime, agriculture, or industry – and get out there to see what our county has to offer!

Image: Screen shot of the new Destination Heritage online map © 2010, 4Culture.

The Duwamish River is a microcosm of Seattle’s History. Herrings House, located in a park along the river, named for a Duwamish village once located nearby, is the site of efforts to restore salmon habitat through site cleanup and re-vegetation of native plants. The Duwamish Tribe opened a Longhouse and Cultural Center in 2009 across the road from Terminal 107 park, the first Native longhouse constructed in Seattle in over 150 years. - Excerpt from Destination Maritime brochure. Click here to download the full brochure.

Just a bit farther south, the Cascade Land Conservancy, in partnership with the City of Tukwila and friends groups, opened an 8.6 acre park called the Duwamish Hill Preserve in September 2010. A place of historical, cultural and ecological importance, the preserve serves as an outdoor classroom for students, a culturally significant location for Native Americans and an example of successful partnerships among community members and public and private partners. The Duwamish Riverbend Hill restoration project, funded in part through 4Culture’s annual Heritage programs, includes a recently completed heritage site map for the preserve. These materials are available at kiosks on the property and at the Tukwila Community Center, which is located half a mile from the Hill. To learn more about the Duwamish Hill Preserve, including how to get involved, visit www.cascadeland.org/stewardship/our-lands/duwamish-riverbend-hill.

Image: Duwamish Riverbend Hill © 2010, courtesy of Cascade Land Conservancy.

Post updated 3/4/2011.

Destination Heritage, a collaboration of 4Culture’s Preservation and Heritage programs, was acknowledged for creating an interactive guide to historic places and heritage sites around King County, which includes a website, printed brochures, cell phone tours, and video produced for 4CTV. AASLH recognized Destination Heritage’s organization along the three themes of Agriculture, Industry, and Maritime, as a model for combining history and tourism.

As the AASLH Awards Committee chair noted, “The Awards Program is truly a national grassroots effort. Each nomination is reviewed at the state level by a team of museum professionals and historians, and at the regional level by a regional chair. If the nomination is judged favorably, the regional chair brings the nomination to Nashville for consideration by the national review committee.” 4Culture appreciates the work of the committee and its public recognition of Destination Heritage as an outstanding achievement, worthy of a national award.

Images: 4Culture, Holly Taylor

Saturday, September 25th will be a busy day around the county as three different grand openings will offer unique opportunities to celebrate local culture.

7:00 am – 7:00 pm: Grand Opening of Lake Union Park, with viewings of no less than four National Historic Landmark vessels. The free festivities will kick off with a Family Fun Run and Sunrise Yoga on the Fitness Field, and continue all day with family activities on land and water, including: musical performances on two stages, model boat races, Native American canoe displays, paddle songs and traditional salmon barbeque, environmental learning and history trail tours. Visit www.seattleparksfoundation.org or www.seattle.gov/parks.htm for more information.

2:00pm: Official opening ceremony of the first Dockton Historic Trail, commemorating the unique history of this quaint ship-building community on Maury Island. Drive along the Dockton Road Heritage Corridor down to Dockton Park, where the first of ten interpretive signs lead visitors on a half mile trail. Be sure to stop by Dockton’s First School on Windmill Street following the opening ceremony for refreshments. For additional information call 206-463-1462.

1:00pm – 6:00pm: Hops & Crops Harvest Festival at Mary Olson Farm, not an official grand opening, but a great public opportunity to get a sneak peak at the cool things are happening at this historic farmstead. The farm is a unique 60-acre farmstead dating from 1879 nestled on a sloped and wooded site along the Green River. It includes an assembly of recently restored rural buildings, indigenous salmon runs and natural wildlife. The festival will offer craft beer, music, food, marketplace and kids’ activities. Visit www.wrvmuseum.org for more information.

© 2006 Center for Wooden Boats

Note: This post was updated 9/2/10.

Puget Sound history is MARITIME history. Waterborne transportation was the primary mode of travel in Western Washington well into the 20th century. Forests of fir and cedar yielded the planks and timbers needed for canoes and ships of every size and purpose. Along the shores and waterways of King County, old lighthouses and wharves, bridges and locks, and a fleet of nationally significant heritage ships tell the story of a maritime past. Today, dedicated organizations continue to preserve the wooden boat legacy of Puget Sound.

4CTV is excited to debut the first program in a 3-part series of documentaries focusing on the Destination Heritage travel guides - Maritime, Agriculture and Industry. The first program showcases the maritime groups at South Lake Union, including the Center for Wooden Boats (CWB), NW Seaport and the Virginia V. In interviews, Executive Director, Betsy Davis and Dick Wagner, Founding Director, of the CWB relate the history of maritime in our region and the how organizations are working hard to keep that history alive and relevant. Click on the video below to view a short clip.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to watch the entire episode.

FUN opportunity: August 13 South Lake Union is having a block party! There will be activities for kids and grown ups (including wine tasting, beer garden, grilling competition and farmer’s markets). Head down to South Lake Union to explore the neighborhood and exciting waterfront activities at the park.

We’re on a roll folks…first state, now national recognition for Destination Heritage!

The American Association of State and Local History (AASLH) has selected Destination Heritage as a 2010 Award of Merit winner. The AASLH Leadership in History Awards is the nation’s most prestigious competition for recognition of achievement in state and local history. Keith Peterson, the regional representative to AASLH, stated that Destination Heritage was selected as the multimedia winner for being “the most innovative project…to drive tourism to heritage sites.”

The 2010 awards will be presented at a special banquet as part of the annual AASLH meeting in Oklahoma City, September 22nd. The AASLH presents Awards of Merit annually in recognition of excellence for projects, individual achievement, and organizational general excellence. To find out about the other 2010 winners, or to register for the AASLH annual meeting, visit www.aaslh.org.

If you haven’t already checked out 4Culture’s award winning Destination Heritage, or gotten your copies of the themed brochures for summer adventure planning, visit www.destinationheritage.org or contact us. We are planning some very cool updates to the Destination Heritage webpage, so check back this summer for fun games and new cell phone tours.

4Culture would like to extend a hearty “CONGRATULATIONS” to all the other 2010 AASLH award winners! Hope to see you all in Oklahoma City this September!

Image: 2008, Courtesy of Michael Young, YaM brand.

This 640-acre park at the north end of Lake Sammamish was once known as Willowmoor Farm, home of the Anna and James Clise family. Anna was a social reformer who helped found Children’s Orthopedic Hospital, and James was a Seattle businessman. Together, they transformed a rustic hunting lodge into a country estate, building a 28-room Arts and Crafts-style mansion in 1904.
Willowmoor Farm gained international fame for its progressive farming methods, prized Ayrshire cattle from Scotland and Morgan horses bred for the U.S. Army.

In 1962 the property was purchased by King County, and became a regional park. The Clise Mansion, and other historic features are preserved as a landmark district and listed in the National Register of Historic Places. There are several trails and a 40 acre off-leash dog park along the Sammamish River, which make for a wonderful family/canine outing on a sunny day.

The park is also a Listen4Culture site, so while you are visiting, call 206.296.4848 and enter #201 from your cell for additional history and a personal tour.

Click here for the park’s website with additional visitor information and hours.

Image: © 2010, Marymoor Park off-leash area, courtesy of Steve Link

Take highway 2 out to the northeast corner of King County, and discover the rich history that is tucked into the mountain side…

Begin with a morning hike along the Iron Goat Trail, a recreational trail which follows the Great Northern railroad grade. Constructed largely by volunteers over the past decade, the trail offers intriguing glimpses of industrial relics along the route, and outstanding scenic views. Visit the website for parking areas, trail maps and additional history.

Once you’ve worked up a sufficient appetite, stop in the town of Skykomish for lunch and take a stroll around an old railroad town. The town (known as ‘Sky’ to locals) got its start in 1892 during the construction of the Great Northern Railroad, the last transcontinental railroad built in Washington State. Visit the local museum at its temporary location in the WPA-built National Forest Service complex along the Old Cascades Highway for a walking guide, and information on the cleanup that is currently taking place.

Like a little preview before you go?

Listen to a brief history of Skykomish.

Like what you hear? Go to Listen4Culture for more. For other nearby things to do, visit www.destinationheritage.org.

Image: Snowshed along the Iron Goat Trail, 2008, 4Culture

According to DAHP, Destination Heritage: A Guide to Historic Places around King County, is being celebrated as a multi-media project that “capitalizes on the preference of tourists to enjoy first hand experiences of local history and historic places.” The SHPO awards program recognizes persons, organizations, and projects that have achieved distinction in the field of historic preservation. Through a web site, printed guides, and cell phone tours, Destination Heritage provides tourist information on historic places around King County related to three themes: agriculture, industry, and maritime heritage. Check out the project’s website to download PDF guide, request that we mail you a printed guide, or to browse online.

Thanks to DAHP for this honor and congratulations to all the 2010 winners!

Destination Heritage was created by 4Culture with support from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Preserve America and King County.

Now that the weather is warming up – yes for Pacific Northwesterners, 50 degrees is warm – and sunny, GO OUTSIDE!

Channel your inner tourist, and go down to Seattle’s Central Waterfront. Why not?! How long has it been since you’ve been down there? Lots to see and do…

Founded in 1851, Elliott Bay has served as the city’s front door. South of downtown at the mouth of the Duwamish River is Harbor Island, the world’s largest artificial island when it was constructed in 1909. The island’s profile is defined by the massive gantry cranes used to load and unload containerized cargo – said to have inspired the AT-ATs of Star Wars fame. Heading north, Piers 54–59 are a distinctive group of historic wooden warehouses home to working fireboats, the Seattle Aquarium, and a variety of tasty seafood restaurants and quirky shops. These sheds are the most authentic remnants of the old waterfront still standing.

Continuing north, historic markers placed all along the seawall commemorate milestones in Seattle’s maritime history. Explore Seattle Art Museum’s Olympic Sculpture Park, and/or the walking and biking paths that connect with Smith Cove Park and the Elliott Bay Marina in the Magnolia neighborhood. For other things to see and do visit DestinationHeritage.org.

Seattle’s Central Waterfront © 4Culture 2010

My first foray into Georgetown was January last year for 4C’s 2009 launch event – and I <sheepishly> have to admit I’ve been in Seattle for 6 1/2 years. Many of you probably know this little gem of a neighborhood, although some of you, like me, may be a little late getting around to exploring it… but I highly recommend you do!

First platted in 1890, the community of Georgetown initially developed as a manufacturing and heavy industry center. By the turn-of-the-century, however, Georgetown had gained a pretty dodgy reputation due to its many breweries, saloons and various other <ahem> night-time activities.

Today, the neighborhood retains much of its unique historic character and distinctive flavor – sans the dodginess. One noteworthy industrial landmark is the Seattle Brewing & Malt Company (6000 – 6004 Airport Way S). One of the largest breweries in the West when completed in 1903, it now partially houses art studios. The former Georgetown City Hall (6200 – 13th Avenue S) is another interesting landmark, and saw a lot of action in a town with 26 all-night saloons. Although the brewery is closed, there are still some local brew-houses that are turning out area favorites. There are also plenty of local restaurants and watering holes to satisfy your appetite, and wet your thirst. For more information on the neighborhood’s history, visit www.georgetownhistory.com.

Image: Seattle Malt and Brewing Company, 2008, Courtesy of Holly Taylor

Staying in the area for the holidays? Take a short trip out to Snoqualmie Valley and experience all the season has to offer. Drive down Snoqualmie Valley Rd/Carnation Farms Rd Heritage Corridor and view a serene stretch of the valley from an elevated vantage point. You might want to head over to Dougherty Farmstead and take a tour of this nostalgic National Register site, featured in 4Culture’s Destination Heritage – Agriculture brochure. See what rural life was like during Washington’s territorial era, by exploring the 1888 house and property. John and Kate Dougherty raised eight children on the farm, and for 85 years, members of the Dougherty family continued to live and work here. Outbuildings were added as dairying activities expanded, and the well-preserved farmhouse has some of its original furnishings. The surrounding farmland is protected as open space, and the grounds offer panoramic views of the lower Snoqualmie Valley.

If your hours are limited, don’t let that stop you – the farmhouse is Listen4Culture site #9, so you can listen to a brief audio “tour” from your computer, or if you prefer, call Listen4Culture at 206.296.4848 and enter #212 to listen to the tour from your cell phone.

Be sure to visit the Carnation Tree Farm (at historic Hjertoos Farm) down the road to cut down your own Christmas tree. For other holiday events in the area visit www.duvallwa.gov/decevents/decemberevents.html.

Image: Dougherty Farmhouse, 2005, 4Culture

Recently, Nancy Guppy and the team from Seattle Channel’s Artzone spent a day at 4Culture filming a quick segment about what 4Culture is (and does). They’ve posted it on their website, take a look!

Of course… if you’d like to participate in your own heritage tourism in King County, you can check out our 4Culture produced Destination Heritage guides for history-savvy tips and off the beaten path sites and attractions.

Nestled in the Cascade foothills of southeast King County, the town of Black Diamond provides a glimpse of 19th-century life in a former frontier mining town. A Listen4Culture site, the town has a rich local history and many hidden treasures to explore. The historical depot museum features a variety of artifacts from the area’s coal mining history, and offers a walking tour guide of local historic sites. Take a walk through the Black Diamond Cemetery (a National Landmark); just the thing to get you in the Holloween spirit!  And don’t forget to visit the historic Black Diamond Bakery for lunch, or some tasty fresh baked treats.

On your way to, or from, the town be sure to take a drive along Green Valley Road one of King County’s new heritage corridors. A beautiful autumn drive, this road will take you past the little community of Kummer, where Gladding McBean operated silicon sand mines, and Flaming Geyser State Park, an early auto camp. Plenty to see and do in south King County this fall!

Photo courtesy of Holly Taylor, 2008

John Boylan hosts periodic Conversations on a wide range of subjects. On Tuesday, September 22nd the Conversation will be on Public Art, and the discussion should prove lively. Guests will be Carol Goldstein, Public Art administrator, and artists Carolyn Law, Greg Lundgren and Dan Webb. Join the conversation at Vermillion from 7 – 9 p.m. This is a free event.

View the announcement with biographies of the participants and more background information.

Looks like it’s gearing up to be a nice Labor Day weekend, perhaps one of the last nice weekends before fall?! (I, know, I am not ready for summer to end either.) So why not take advantage of holiday, and head out for a nice day trip to Vashon & Maury islands. While that area of King County holds many alluring sites and beautiful walking trails, be sure not to miss the quiet and scenic little town of Dockton. Located on the west side of Maury Island on Quartermaster Harbor, Dockton is a small residential community with extant traces of the major shipbuilding center that dominated it’s beaches a century ago.

In the 1890s, Dockton was home to the largest dry dock on the West Coast. In the early 20th century, Martinolich boatyard and Stuckey’s marine ways built and repaired boats of all kinds. Today the town has grown into a picturesque waterfront village. A short walk west along Dock Street and south on Stuckey Avenue SW takes visitors past several historic homes, and the last remaining net-drying shed on Quartermaster Harbor. As a Destination Maritime site, Dockton offers unique experiences for the day visitor or resident, including an audio tour accessed via cell phone or on-line. For more information about the free Destination Heritage guide series, or to learn about other activities/points of interest in this area, visit www.destinationheritage.org.

Image: Ship on Dockton Park beach, 4Culture

If you are looking for something to do on a nice summer night, but don’t want to have to drive too far…check out Chateau Ste. Michelle’s summer concert series. This year’s summer series offers great performances from international artists like Elvis Costello, John Legend and Bonnie Raitt. The stage is set outdoors on a grassy knoll, so bring your picnic basket and large blanket. You can also purchase bottles of the winery’s award winning wines, one to share at the concert and some to take home. The winery is featured in 4Culture’s Destination Heritage guides, and was originally established as a weekend estate and model farm in 1910. The farmstead is on the National Register of Historic Places, and the beautiful grounds and buildings are open to the public for tours and tastings. For more information visit the Winery’s website: www.ste-michelle.com.

www.destinationheritage.org