Museums

Lacey Historical Museum

The primary mission of the Lacey Museum is to collect, interpret, and display historical materials that illustrate the history of the Lacey area in all periods of its development. In a changing community, the Lacey Museums works to preserve and interpret Lacey history and identity. Through exhibits, educational programs, and research archives, the museum tells the story of Lacey's past, present, and future.

History

The Lacey Museum is located in an historic structure originally built in 1926 by Fred Russell as a private residence. In the late 1940s the building was used by the Lacey Volunteer Fire Department, and was later used as city hall when Lacey was incorporated as a city in 1966. City government outgrew the facility, and by 1979 the decision was made to create a local museum on land donated by Lacey Women's Club. The building was moved, and in 1981 the Lacey Museum opened to the public.

Artifacts Collections

Local history photographs, furnishings, utensiles.

For more information, please visit www.museumsusa.org/museums/info/1157845.

The State Capitol Museum

Eight blocks south of the Capitol Campus, in the heart of Olympia’s historic district, is the State Capital Museum. Dedicated to preserving the culture and history of Washington State, the museum is housed in a stately stucco mansion and offers an extensive gift and souvenir shop. Hours are 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and Saturdays from 12:00-4:00 p.m. For admission cost and general information call (360) 753-2580.

Learn about the establishment of Washington's state capital and the construction of the imposing capitol building in the exhibit Olympia: Her Present, Proud Position.

Featuring two floors of exhibits, the museum offers interpretations of regional Native American history and a series of interesting temporary exhibits. The gardens surrounding the museum mansion feature a sample of native Northwest plants in the ethnobotanical garden. The museum store features a nice selection of Northwest products and gifts

Museum Hours:

Tuesday - Friday: 10am - 4pm
Saturday: Noon - 4pm
Sunday & Monday: Closed

For more information, please visit www.wshs.org/wscm/index.htm.

The Bigelow House Museum

The Bigelow House Museum is the oldest residence in Olympia, Washington, and one of the oldest still standing in the Pacific Northwest. It was built circa 1860 by pioneer lawyer Daniel R. Bigelow and his schoolteacher wife Ann Elizabeth White Bigelow. Surrounded by more than an acre of the family’s original land claim, the house is charming example of the Carpenter Gothic style popular in rural America during the mid-1800s.

Experience an authentically preserved Victorian-era family home. Bigelow House was home to a single family- a family that saved things- for more than 140 years. It contains a remarkable collection of original furnishings, photos, documents, and other personal belongings.

From the pioneer fruit trees out in the garden to elaborate 19th Century handcrafts worked by Bigelow women, Bigelow House reflects the life work of four successive generations of Bigelow family members. Bigelow House Museum offers an authentic glimpse of family life in Puget Sound Country before Washington became a state and American women won the vote.

Opened to the public as a Museum in 1995, visitors may tour the ground floor of the house, its gardens and the historic neighborhood. The Museum hosts several events throughout the year. Special tours can be arranged year round.

For more information, please visit www.bigelowhouse.org.

Hands On Childrens Museum (in Olympia)

Voted Best Place to Take Kids for nearly a decade, The Hands On Children's Museum hosts more visitors for its size than any other youth museum in our region! The Museum has six galleries filled with more than 55 exciting, interactive exhibits.

For more information, please visit www.hocm.org/exhib_main.html.

Olympic Flight Museum

The Olympic Flight Museum is an active flying museum. It is a place where aviation history is alive and honored. We contribute to local air shows and host our own annual Northwest Gathering of Warbirds in June. The museum hosts functions and fundraisers, where enthusiasts meet.

Our artifacts and memorabilia are either contributed or on loan to the Olympic Flight Museum. We feature showcases of artifacts and memorabilia from World War II, and other periods in aviation history. Our hangar features a display of lithographs and painting depicting various combat scenes from WWII in both the European and Pacific theaters of operation. We also have various displays of inert weapon systems from various periods since WWII. We have a large collection of aircraft models of almost every propeller- and jet-engine aircrafts known in the American arsenal since WWII, along with models aircraft of Axis power and the Warsaw Pact.

Displays: Our museum displays mesmerize many visitors, especially the large inventory of aircraft models.

Lithographs and Paintings: Our wall display of aviation lithographs and painting depicts the courage and hardships experienced by aviators regardless of nationality. The four images below are part of our vast display.

Lectures/Tours: Our museum is committed to educating the public on aviation history. We offer lectures and tours of our museum to schools and groups. Our qualified staff of volunteers will host tours in our museum and provide accompanying lectures on aviation if desired. Please call our Administration Office for details at (360) 705-3925.

Museum Hours:

Wed-Sun: 11am - 5pm
Closed: Thanksgiving and Christmas Day

Contact Information:

Address:
7637 A Old Hwy. 99 SE
Olympia, WA 98501

For more information, please call (360) 705-3925 or visit www.olympicflightmuseum.com/index.htm.