The 2010 Lake Union Wooden Boat Festival will be held over the July 4 weekend in Seattle. There will be plenty of visiting vessels, boat rides, activities for kids, and boatbuilding demonstrations, as well as live music. And by all means, stop by the AKCHO display to find out more about heritage and preservation organizations throughout King County! Visit www.cwb.org/2010-wooden-boat-festival to learn more.

The Rainier Valley Historical Society’s Mikala Woodward, who also serves as AKCHO Vice President, has written up a neat account of Hitt’s Fireworks Company. This internationally renowned business concern manufactured fireworks in Columbia City until the 1970s and created the 4th of July show for Ivar’s until 1974, as well as the displays at Sick’s Stadium and at Playland in north Seattle. Read the rest of this article »

My first encounter with Ruth Ittner took place in the late 1980s, when she initiated and accepted the challenge of establishing a hiking trail as a Washington State Centennial legacy project. At first, Ruth had no trail site in mind, but after approaching the Forest Service with her idea in 1987, the abandoned route of the Great Northern Railway near Stevens Pass became a natural choice. Its rich history, natural scenic beauty and railroad grade made it made it a hiking trail worth developing. Read the rest of this article »

In conjunction with the opening of its exhibit, “Women’s Votes, Women’s Voices,” which celebrates a century of women’s suffrage in Washington State, the Museum of History is planning a summer filled with special events and programs. Read the rest of this article »

To commemorate the centennial of women’s suffrage in Washington State, 4Culture and Book-It Repertory Theatre are joining forces to produce a staged reading adapted from Shanna Stevenson’s “Women’s Votes, Women’s Voices.” Following on the heels of the successful collaboration that produced the acclaimed “Two Wheels North” staged reading, performances of “Women’s Votes” will be available to King County venues this fall. Read the rest of this article »

The Washington State Jewish Historical Society is seeking recipes from Sephardic and Ashkenazic traditions for a new cookbook that will be called “Yesterday’s Mavens, Today’s Foodies: Traditions in Northwest Jewish Kitchens.” It will include recipes and photographs to tell the stories of Jewish families throughout the Northwest. Read the rest of this article »

Civil engineer Charles Baker
Photo courtesy of Snoqualmie Valley Historical Museum

Have you ever gazed upon Snoqualmie Falls and been struck by its sheer power? In 1887, a young civil engineer did just that as well. His name was Charles Baker and for years he pondered the potential of that falling water to generate electricity. Read the rest of this article »

Eastside Heritage Center President Michael Luis is working on a pictorial history of Medina and is looking for photos and ephemera that might be included. The book will be part of Arcadia Publishing’s Images of America series, which features historic photos, documents, and bits of history that help tell a community’s story. Michael can be reached at 425-453-5123 or mluis@seanet.com.