Washington State History Museum Tacoma, WA

The Washington State Historical Society is a non-profit 501(c)3 membership organization that is open to all individuals, families, or firms. The Society is recognized in statute (RCW 27.34) as a trustee agency of the state of Washington with specified powers. Its headquarters are located in Tacoma, on the traditional lands of the Puyallup People, whom the Society acknowledges with respect.

Founded in 1891, the Washington State Historical Society has been dedicated to collecting, preserving, and presenting Washington’s rich history for over a century. The Society provides various services to researchers, historians, scholars, and lifelong learners, and operates the State History Research Center and the Washington State History Museum.

The Historical Society is governed by a Board of Trustees, which includes seven public officials, and is led by a director appointed by the board. The organization’s mission is to partner with communities to explore how history connects us all. Its vision is to be the recognized destination for Washington State history and to serve as the state’s primary history educator, making history relevant to modern lives and supporting civic dialogue where all are welcome. The Society values integrity, scholarship, community engagement, diversity, innovation, accountability, and service.

The Society has set goals to create meaningful impact in every region of the state, build and grow audiences, develop institutional assets to meet evolving needs, increase organizational resources, and embrace inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility in operations, programs, and collections.