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The museum offers 7,000 square feet of permanent galleries showcasing the rich, unique heritage of the Gig Harbor Peninsula. Unique artifacts, video kiosks, hands-on exhibits, computer interactives, and a small theater bring Peninsula history to life in our permanent galleries.
I Spy: The Secret Museum 2.0
December 2023 - October 2024
Back by popular demand, this family-friendly exhibit is for the kid in all of us. A special exhibition created by the Harbor History Museum detective squad, I SPY: The Secret Museum is a journey through the little-seen collection areas of the Harbor History Museum. Inspired by the much-loved I SPY books, we decided to apply the idea to our own museum collection. From tools to shoes, hats, toys, and pins, you’ll be transported to other times and places. Don’t miss this chance to see this fun and mind-teasing exhibit. Can you find all the objects listed in eighteen I SPY challenges? Did you see the exhibit the first time it was up? Well, we’ve added some new items and switched things up a bit! Come and test your powers of observation.
Sue Kopp Casillas
Avian Dreams
March - May 2024
While Sue now makes her home in Puyallup, WA, her life road has taken her from small town Minnesota to Arizona, Idaho, Mississippi, California, North Carolina and Virginia. She’s lived in Latin America, not once, but three times—and her art is vibrant with that experience.
Sue earned a BFA in painting and drawing at Arizona State University and is both an artist and teacher. Her work has been displayed in juried shows and in private collections in the US, Mexico, Great Britain and the Netherlands. Her current work is an exciting departure from her usually representational subject matter of landscapes and still life.
Artist Statement:
My current artistic focus has been on paintings of birds done in a style many people have said reminds them of different cultures: México, Central and South America, various North American indigenous cultures, Australia.
My stepping off design (the Trogon), was inspired by an art form called the “mola,” a technique called reverse appliqué made by women in San Blás, Panamá. For that first painting, I used an old landscape canvas figuring if I was unsuccessful, no harm done! I started with a black outline composition of the birds and vegetation on top of the old landscape and began filling in the other areas with color and pattern.
During the painting process, I discovered that letting the old landscape peek through worked out really, really well! For each of the subsequent paintings my technique and color palette evolved, but I was consistent in painting my designs on top of an underpainting. I have done about twenty of these paintings so far and I’ve been happy with the results of each one. Some of my bird subjects have been more imaginative than real, but plenty have been based on birds I have seen or birds I hope to see some day. Combining my love of birds, and my attraction to color and pattern, Avian Dreams has been a rewarding journey.
Please see our School Resources page for classroom lesson plans and historical content to support your investigations of Washington State history!
We are now taking reservations for school programming & field trips for the 2024 school year.
All of our school programs are fully facilitated experiences led by a team of specially trained staff and volunteers. We work hard to make sure that your students are engaged and enthralled with their venture back in time. While our admission for general public visitors is free - and students are always encouraged to make return visits with their families - our school program fees are necessary to cover the cost of staffing, supplies, and maintaining our unique facilities. Our usual class limit is 60 students however, we may be able to accommodate classes over 60 students. Contact the education manager at education@harborhistorymuseum.org to discuss.
Midway School Experience
The award-winning Midway School Experience, in the restored Midway Schoolhouse and museum galleries, is an opportunity for school groups to step back in time, learn local history, and relive schoolhouse life at the turn of the century. Participants are immersed in four hours of continuous programming with curriculum designed to meet several Washington State Education Standards. In this program, students visit our permanent galleries, special exhibition gallery, and participate in a lesson circa 1915. This program is for 3rd - 6th grade students, minimum of 8 students.
Price: $10 per student
Program Available W-F (10:00 a.m. – 2:00 pm; program is 4 hours)
“My students definitely loved their time in the Midway schoolhouse! I don't think they will ever forget their experience!”
“Our students LOVED the Midway experience. It is a memory of a lifetime.”
“It's PERFECT for 4th grade standards in Washington State History!”
Primary Museum Experience
The Primary Museum Experience is an instructor-led introduction to the museum. Students in grades K-2 learn museum etiquette, visit the restored Midway Schoolhouse, participate in an I Spy activity and enjoy a hands-on tour of the main and maritime galleries.
Price: $6 per student
Program Available: W-F (Available during museum hours; 1.5 hour program)
“I will recommend this field trip to other kindergarten classes.”
“The kids loved it and had a wonderful time!”
General Museum Visit
Ideal for middle and high school-aged students working on a special project, students explore our galleries and investigate artifacts through docent, teacher, and self-guided experiences. Learn Washington State, local, and maritime history, as well as how to uncover stories of the past. We are happy to work with teachers to customize the field trip to your specific needs. Best for 6th grade and higher.
Price: $5-7 per student
Program Available W-F (10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.)
“Thank you! Our students were guided, directed, and entertained at a very high level. We are very pleased. Your staff exceeded our expectations!”
“The docents were lovely, informed, and patient. You put on an amazing, welcoming program.”
“We really enjoyed the exhibits and appreciated the knowledgeable guides.”
If you would like more information or to schedule a field trip please fill out our Field Trip Form.
We have compiled some helpful pre-visit information and a pre-visit activity for your to complete with your class. Download them here:
Pre-Visit Slideshow and Sensory Guide
Pre-Visit Activity (hands-on activity) — 3rd grade and up
Pre-Visit Activity Slideshow — 3rd grade and up
Clothing and Lunch Suggestions
Post-Schoolhouse Experience Reflection
Can’t come to the schoolhouse? Check out these sampler videos of Miss Bennett’s lessons with your class!
Opening Exercises: Welcome to Midway School https://www.harbormysterymuseum.org/post/visit-to-midway-schoolhouse-lesson-1-with-miss-bennett
Lesson 2: History and Reading https://www.harbormysterymuseum.org/post/visit-to-midway-schoolhouse-lesson-2-with-miss-bennett
Lesson 3: Penmanship, Arithmetic, and Music https://www.harbormysterymuseum.org/post/visit-to-midway-schoolhouse-lesson-3-with-miss-bennett
Virtual Learning Options
Please contact education@harborhistorymuseum.org to arrange your session or with any questions. We look forward to meeting your students!
Virtual Midway School Experience
Experience a virtual version of our popular immersive field trip to school in 1915! While your students sit in their regular classroom, our schoolmarm will teach them directly from our 1893 Midway Schoolhouse. Over the course of an hour your students will engage in lessons and activities that take them back in time – learning through living history! At the end they will have the opportunity to ask questions about their experience and schooling of the past. For 3rd – 6th grades.
Virtual Artifact Exploration
Explore artifacts from daily life in the late 1800s and early 1900s – what clues will you find to help you uncover the story of the object? Our educator will guide your class to understand what artifacts are and how to examine them while showing students items from our collection. Students will learn how to look carefully at artifacts using good questions and critical thinking skills. They will learn about daily life in the past as well as how and why we preserve artifacts. Our virtual artifact exploration sessions are for 3rd – 12th grades and last 45 minutes.
Museum Expert Chats
Would a chat with an expert on local history enhance your social studies curriculum and engage your students? HHM is here for you! We are pleased to offer our staff for virtual classroom visits to share knowledge and answer questions on a variety of topics. See those below, but don’t hesitate to ask about others; we may be able to accommodate you.
Virtual visits are 30 minutes long and dependent on museum staff schedules. All grade levels welcome. (Bonus: for a career-focused chat we are happy to talk about our jobs!)
Topics
• The sx̌ʷəbabš, the Swift Water People, and
txʷaalqəł, the Place Where Game Exists – the
original residents of Gig Harbor and the HHM
site
• Peninsula settlers
• Settler life in the Pacific Northwest
• Education in the late 1800s and early 1900s
• Peninsula fishing industry
• Boat building
• Types of boats
• Local ferries
• Galloping Gertie
• Peninsula farming
• The HHM site: Donkey Creek, Peninsula
Light Co., Austin Mill
• Midway Schoolhouse
• Local crime history
• Local plants
• Artifact illustration
• Artifact collections and care
• Nonprofit management
• Nonprofit accounting
• Nonprofit marketing
• Museum education
Our special “Harbor Mystery Museum” site is where you can find fun stories and history mysteries for kids and families.
https://www.harbormysterymuseum.org/
Thank you to the following organizations for support of our School Programs:
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Gig Harbor Garden Tour
The Baker Foundation
The DV and Ida McEachern Foundation
Estate of Joan Bassett
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The 65-foot purse seiner, built in 1925, Shenandoah, was donated to the Museum in 2000. The fishing vessel was owned by Tony Janovich, who donated it to the Museum shortly after his retirement. Currently, we are in the process of restoring the vessel. If you would like to volunteer on the restoration please click here. Also to follow the progress of the restoration click here.
Thanks to the following for support of the Shenandoah Project:
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Washington State Heritage Capital Project Fund
Pierce County Historic Preservation Fund
Port of Tacoma
Individual Donors
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