Thursday, March 18, 2010

Tonight at the Washington State History Museum--March 18, 2010

THURSDAY NIGHT LIVE! > 6:30-8PM

The Kim Archer Band performed at the Museum on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and are back by popular demand. This time they’ll take you on a musical journey with their smooth, jamming mix of jazz, blues, and rock-n-roll. Included in the show are short commentaries on the history of the artists, the songs, and why they have stayed popular throughout the decades. Bring your dancing shoes!

(And by the way, admission to the Museum is FREE tonight after 2 pm!)

On the Mezzanine.

Coming April 15…It’s a CHESS RUMBLE! Stay tuned to this blog to find out more.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Free “Washington Icons” Teacher Workshop at the History Museum

Free “Washington Icons” Teacher Workshop at the History Museum
Saturday, April 10, 2010
8 am to 12 pm


If you were to pick an icon (person, place, or thing) what would it be? Join us for a special in-depth look at the “Icons of Washington History” exhibit and discover the key moments in Washington’s past. This workshop features the new online curriculum module by the same name, and as a huge added bonus, it’s FREE. Free lunch! Free clock hours! Free workshop! Does it get any better than that in these tough economic times?

For teachers new to the state, new to teaching regional history, or simply looking for a new look at a familiar subject, this half-day workshop is a must-do. Participants will join our education staff on a journey through Washington’s past and present, looking at the people, places, and objects that define our region. This content-based workshop will start out with a brief overview of Pacific Northwest history, then we’ll explore strategies for teaching with objects that you can use in your classroom using the “Icons of Washington History” online module.

In addition, we’ll provide loads of resources to help you book and prepare for a museum visit as well as integrate Washington and Pacific Northwest history in your classroom. Whether you’re a teacher, librarian, principal, or homeschooling parent, this workshop is for you!

The workshop, museum visit, lunch and 3.5 clock hours are provided FREE through the generous sponsorship of the Ben B. Cheney Foundation! Don’t miss this great opportunity!

To register, email schoolprograms@wshs.wa.gov with your name, school and number of participants (plus a contact email address) or call 253.798.5927.

Apply for Scholarships, Awards at Washington Museums Association Conference

This year's WMA conference is June 16-18 in Gig Harbor--a great opportunity to see the new Harbor History Museum. WMA offers four scholarships to help underwrite costs associated with attending, as well as several awards that recognize excellence in exhibits, projects and publications.

All the information is online--but be quick! The deadline is March 26.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Great Moments in Northwest Women's History

1848 - Women’s Rights Convention at Seneca Falls
1871 - Susan B. Anthony visits Washington Territory
1910 - Washington women win the right to vote
1912 - Oregon women win the right to vote
1920 - The 19th Amendment passes, guaranteeing all American women the right to vote
1977 – International Women’s Year Conference at Ellensburg

Be part of the next great moment in women’s history!
Share your research and experience at “Game Changers and History Makers: Women in the Pacific Northwest,” the 63rd Pacific Northwest History Conference, November 3-5. This special gathering commemorates the centennial of Washington women’s suffrage and will feature nationally known speakers and compelling stories, all at Spokane’s historic Davenport Hotel. Proposals are encouraged for any topic on the theme of women in the Pacific Northwest. The anniversary of this momentous development in Washington history offers opportunities to consider women’s influence in the Pacific Northwest in a variety of arenas. Complete details online.

Monday, March 1, 2010

Historic Preservation Blogs to Watch

One of the best things about the Washington State Historical Society is the many opportunities to partner with other state agencies and organizations whose primary focus is history. And one of our favorites is the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP). They're housed just down the street from the State Capital Museum in Olympia, in a historically cool modernist building with big plate-glass windows. If you're walking up Capitol Way from downtown, you're likely to see State Historic Preservation Officer Allyson Brooks at her desk, working hard to ensure that Washington's historic places are preserved and managed appropriately.

DAHP runs a blog worth checking out: it's a panoply of historic preservation doings around the state and nation. A recent entry made note of an NPR story about a green building project in California, Historic Seattle's upcoming workshop series, and the 2010 Public Archaeology Field School at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site and Lava Beds National Monument.

The blog has an easy-to-use subscribe feature, so you can receive postings (on a regular, but not-too-frequent basis) in your email inbox. If historic preservation matters to you, consider signing up for this blog's feed.

Historic Seattle also recently launched its blog, MAin2, named for Seattle telephone exchange codes used a half-century ago. While its primary focus is preservation issues in the Seattle area, writers go far afield too. Last week, we enjoyed posts about historic preservation and culture in Cuba, and learned about the federal government's proposed historic preservation budget. Like DAHP's, this has a quick subscribe link, and like DAHP's blog, MAin2 is worth checking out.

What historic preservation blogs do you like?