Columbia River Council Chambers color block Man and dog on the rail tracks Sgt. Ordway Statue color block Capital Museum Entrance

Heritage Services

The Washington State Historical Society’s Heritage Services works with museums and heritage organizations throughout the state as they grow their capabilities. We provide traveling exhibits, professional development opportunities, and administer capital grant funds. Heritage Services is housed at the State Capital Museum and Outreach Center in Olympia.

Services offered include:

Workshops

Workshops provide training in the skills needed to operate small to medium-size museums and heritage organizations. Workshop presenters are experts in their fields with an ability to provide practical, hands-on learning. WSHS also partners with organizations to offer prefessional development statewide. Contact us for more information.

Statewide Conferences

Our conferences combine excellent regional academic and public history presentations to offer a diverse array of session and seminars. The venerable Pacific Northwest History Conference, offered continuously since 1947, brings together scholars, students, and the interested public to discuss and debate new perspectives on Northwest history. The Washington heritage conference, offered occasionally, brings together representatives from organizations doing the varied heritage work of our state to discuss current issues, explore opportunities, and exchange ideas and innovations. In 2010 the heritage conference will be combined with the Pacific Northwest History Conference to create an exciting convergence of public and academic history with museum best practices.

Traveling Exhibits Service

The Traveling Exhibits Service (TES) offers a variety of traveling exhibits on Washington State topics for a modest rental fee. TES exhibits are viewed by an average of 30,000 people per year and are an excellent way to bring top-notch shows to your museum.

Heritage Capital Projects Fund

Since 1997, the HRC has administered the roughly $40 million in Heritage Capital Projects Fund (HCPF) grants given biennially to heritage organizations and projects across the state. Grant funds have been used to build museums, restore historic structures, and interpret and preserve the heritage of the state in other ways, enhancing the local economy through job creation and purchasing while adding to the unique character of Washington's varied towns and cities. Recipients of HCPF grants need to provide two dollars of match for each dollar of state funding. The deadline for submission is in early May of each even-numbered year.

Center for Columbia River History

The Center for Columbia River History (CCRH) is a regional consortium of Portland State University, Washington State University Vancouver, and the Washington State Historical Society that is dedicated to providing a deeper understanding of Columbia River Basin. Through public programs, conferences, educational products and publications, CCRH provides a community space for discussion of contemporary and historical issues facing Columbia River basin residents and ecosystems.

Washington Heritage e-Bulletin

Our monthly Washington State Heritage e-Bulletin provides a compendium of information of particular interest to the heritage community. Sign-up to receive the e-bulletin today!

Heritage Caucus

The Heritage Caucus meets regularly while the Washington State Legislature is in session to discuss heritage, arts, and other cultural and recreational issues. Organized in 1990, the Caucus is a bipartisan gathering of state legislators and other elected officials; staff from state heritage, arts, and cultural agencies, and nonprofit organizations; and citizens interested in supporting Washington’s cultural, heritage and the arts. The Heritage Caucus is co-chaired by Sen. Jim Honeyford (R-15th) and Rep. Kevin Van De Wege(D-24th), and co-staffed by the Washington State Historical Society and the Washington State Arts Commission. To receive email notification of Heritage Caucus meetings and related legislative news, click here.

Lewis & Clark Trail Guide

The Washington State Historical Society led the state Lewis and Clark Bicentennial commemoration to national acclaim. Click Here to receive a free copy of our popular Lewis and Clark Trail Guide, featuring geographic and historical information about the Expedition, as well as points of interest for travelers along the Trail.

Heritage Resource Center
211 SW 21st Avenue
Olympia, WA 98501
(360) 586-0219
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