Two dozen AKCHO members gathered at the landmarked Fall City Masonic Hall late last month to learn how Memory Books can assist historical societies in capturing community memories.

Cathy Fulton of Capturing Memories and Pat Filer of HistoryLink.org both discussed how a project they collaborated on several years ago for the Log House Museum led to their creation of a template that can be used by other history museums and historical societies. Read the rest of this article »

After years of preparation and anticipation, the Museum of Flight welcomed the 28-foot-long crew cabin section of NASA’s full-scale space shuttle trainer on June 30. The Space Shuttle Trainer is the simulator on which every space shuttle astronaut has ever trained. Museum of Flight President and CEO Doug King was joined by Gov. Christine Gregoire, Congressman Jim McDermott, astronaut Bonnie Dunbar and other local dignitaries to welcome its arrival. Read the rest of this article »

Photo courtesy of Sammamish Heritage Society

After more than two years of heavy-duty advocacy, fundraising, and planning undertaken by the Sammamish Heritage Society, the historic Reard House last month was moved approximately a mile from its old location on the Sammamish Plateau to its new permanent location at the new Southeast Eighth Street Park. Read the rest of this article »

The Center for Wooden Boats’ 36th annual Lake Union Wooden Boat Festival expands to five days this year and festivities will span Lake Union from south to north. Honoring its floating roots, the Festival will feature an array of 200 wooden boats anchored off of Lake Union Park, ranging from dinghies to the 133-foot schooner Adventuress. Read the rest of this article »

The sexy silhouette of the Space Needle rarely figures into the conversations about her preservation. It may be the goddess’ graceful legs, cinched waist and top-heavy observation deck – it must be more than a hat – that made her Seattle’s beloved icon. It may have been the building’s well-concealed eroticism that made Lady Needle our city’s cherished mother.

The Landmark Preservation Board postponed a vote last month on the addition of three glass boxes that would extend beyond the historic observation deck and break the lines of the halo. The glass boxes would transform the Space Needle from below and afar. Read the rest of this article »

News that a St. Louis concern is interested in snapping up Seattle’s vintage streetcars, warehoused since the waterfront trolley barn was removed seven years ago to make way for the Seattle Art Museum’s Olympic Sculpture Park, has prompted an outcry from local citizens.  It also has spurred a grassroots move to bring the streetcar back to the waterfront, and offers of help from local businessmen, according to Seattle Times columnist Danny Westneat, though not from the big names you might expect.

It has been 50 years since Century 21. The 1962 Seattle World’s Fair opened April 21, 1962. The Fair featured the Science Pavilion, Space Needle, the Monorail, Memorial Stadium, the Coliseum, the International Fountain, the Food Circus, the Bubbleator, and of course let’s not forget Show Street, which featured Gracie Hansen’s Paradise International, a Las Vegas-style floor show. Read the rest of this article »

Every July, Black Diamond celebrates its history with Miners Day.  Although coal mining operations were prevalent throughout East King County in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, no other town is more associated with King County’s first major industry than Black Diamond. Read the rest of this article »

The deadline is looming for nominations of individuals or organizations for the Governor’s 2012 Arts & Heritage Awards. Sponsored by the Washington State Arts Commission, the Awards were established in 1966 to recognize individuals and artists for their significant contributions to the creative vitality of the state. Read the rest of this article »

The Steamer Virginia V is celebrating her 90th year of service this summer with cruises around Lake Union and in search of the Blue Angels, and with voyages to the Tacoma Maritime Festival in August and Olympia’s Harbor Days over Labor Day weekend. For more information, visit www.virginiav.org/events.