World War I: Lessons & Legacies

Jefferson Museum of Art & History 540 Water Street, Port Townsend, WA, United States

World War I: Lessons & Legacies is an exhibition of objects, letters, stories, and posters about World War I and one of its most significant legacies in our region: The 1918 influenza pandemic. Accompanying the objects from our collection are selections from JCHS's oral history collection featuring Jefferson County stories of the 1918 pandemic.

Landscapes: Real & Imagined

Jefferson Museum of Art & History 540 Water Street, Port Townsend, WA, United States

From the abstract to the realistic, Landscapes: Real & Imagined focuses on Joan Jonland, Stephen Yates, and Thomas Wilson (1931 - 2015)—three painters who have lived and worked in Port Townsend for the majority of their lives as artists. Each artist's reverence for our natural environment emerges in their unique approach, creating art that inspires and challenges us to see the land differently. Along with the work of Jonland, Yates, and Wilson, this exhibition features many selections from our permanent collection and local collectors that have never been publicly displayed. Landscapes was co-curated by Cliff Moore and Ann Welch. Special thanks to the artists, JCHS's Art Advisory Committee, and all our members, donors, and volunteers who support exhibitions in the Ferguson Gallery!

Under Water Street

Jefferson Museum of Art & History 540 Water Street, Port Townsend, WA, United States

Casting most of his sculpture in bronze, local artist David Eisenhour portrays and interprets organic forms to tell stories of natural history and human experience. Visit this selection of Eisenhour's work exploring climate change and rising sea levels at the Jefferson Museum through July 30. Special thanks to Suzanne Lamon for Under Water Street exhibit design.

Author Talk with Ivy Anderson and Devon Angus

Northwest Maritime Center 431 Water Street, Port Townsend, WA, United States

First Friday Author Talk: A discussion on the history of sex work with the co-writers and editors of Alice: Memoirs of a Barbary Coast Prostitute REGISTER VIA SIMPLETIX Friday, May 5 at 7:00 PM Livestreamed and in-person at Northwest Maritime Center Suggested donation: $10 This program will be offered in-person (capacity limited to 75) and by livestream. All registered attendees will receive a recording of this program. Join writers and historians Ivy Anderson and Devon Angus in a discussion about the history of sex work and their book, Alice: Memoirs of a Barbary Coast Prostitute (Heyday Books). They will also share themes in Alice's story that extend to issues facing sex workers today, thoughts about shifting ideas of gender roles, and some newly uncovered research about Alice herself and the history of sex work in Washington State. About Alice: Memoirs of a Barbary Coast Prostitute In 1913 the San Francisco Bulletin published a serialized, ghostwritten memoir of a prostitute who went by the moniker Alice Smith. “A Voice from the Underworld” detailed Alice's humble Midwestern upbringing and her struggle to find aboveboard work, and candidly related the harrowing events she endured after entering “the life.” While prostitute narratives had been […]

May First Saturday

Jefferson Museum of Art & History 540 Water Street, Port Townsend, WA, United States

Join us every first Saturday of the month at the Jefferson Museum for free admission, extended hours, and Art Walk activities!

2023 AHA! Auction

Online Event

Our Art, History, & Adventure (AHA!) Auction benefiting art and history education programs for learners of all ages returns this May with a fresh slate of experiences, artwork, and more! We believe in the power of arts and history to spark curiosity and a love for lifelong learning. That's why our education programs are rooted in a love for shared "Aha!" moments. If you believe inclusive, inspiring education programs are essential to a thriving community, you can directly support them through JCHS's 2023 AHA! Auction. Bidding on experiences, artwork, and adventures inspired by our region's arts and heritage kicks off Friday, May 12 and ends Friday, May 26. Your Participation Supports Lifelong Learning You don't have to wait until May to get in on the a(u)ction! Below are a few ways you can show your support for lifelong learning ahead of this year's auction. Item Donations Do you have an item or experience you'd like to donate to this year's AHA! Auction? Download an item donation form and return it to giving@jchsmuseum.com. If you're curious about the items and experiences that make up the AHA! Auction lineup, check out last year's slate inspired by and featuring our region's arts, history, […]

June First Saturday

Jefferson Museum of Art & History 540 Water Street, Port Townsend, WA, United States

Join us every first Saturday of the month at the Jefferson Museum for free admission all day starting at 11:00 AM, open hours extended to 7:00 PM, and Art Walk activities in downtown Port Townsend.

History Hike: Anderson Lake

Anderson Lake State Park 1061 Anderson Lake Rd, Chimacum, WA, United States

REGISTER VIA SIMPLETIX Saturday, June 10, with two hikes departing at 10:30 AM and 12:30 PM Groups limited to 12 Ticket price: $45 for JCHS or NOHC members, $60 for non-members Join North Olympic History Center Executive Director David Brownell for one of our June History Hikes at Anderson Lake State Park. Hikes last about 90 minutes and participants are responsible for their own transportation to and from the hike site. Hikes are only open to ticketed participants. Capacity for both the morning and afternoon hike is 12. Visit our walking tours page to learn more about History Hikes. About David Brownell David Brownell holds a BA in History from Hanover College and an MA in Public History from Wright State University. After serving as Research Coordinator for the Seminole Tribe of Florida’s Tribal Historic Preservation Office, David moved to Washington in 2015 to take a position as Cultural Resources Specialist for the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, and in 2018 he was designated as Jamestown’s Tribal Historic Preservation Officer by Tribal Council. In the fall of 2021, he became Executive Director of the North Olympic History Center. David serves on boards for both Jefferson County Historical Society and Jefferson Land Trust. […]

Research Center Open House

Research Center 13692 Airport Cutoff Rd, Port Townsend, WA, United States

Join our research and collections staff for this special open house at our Research Center! Get a behind-the-scenes tour of special collections, enjoy hands-on activities, and bring your questions about collections care to our knowledgeable staff. Plus, learn more about the hundreds of maps and oversized documents we've been working to digitize for the past several months.

History Hike: Discovery Bay

Discovery Bay Discovery Bay, WA, United States

REGISTER VIA SIMPLETIX Saturday, June 25, with two hikes departing at 10:30 AM and 12:30 PM Groups limited to 12 Ticket price: $45 for JCHS or NOHC members, $60 for non-members Join North Olympic History Center Executive Director David Brownell for one of our May History Hikes at Discovery Bay. Hikes last about 90 minutes and participants are responsible for their own transportation to and from the hike site. Hikes are only open to ticketed participants. Capacity for both the morning and afternoon hike is 12. Visit our walking tours page to learn more about History Hikes. About David Brownell David Brownell holds a BA in History from Hanover College and an MA in Public History from Wright State University. After serving as Research Coordinator for the Seminole Tribe of Florida’s Tribal Historic Preservation Office, David moved to Washington in 2015 to take a position as Cultural Resources Specialist for the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, and in 2018 he was designated as Jamestown’s Tribal Historic Preservation Officer by Tribal Council. In the fall of 2021, he became Executive Director of the North Olympic History Center. David serves on boards for both Jefferson County Historical Society and Jefferson Land Trust. Presented in […]