Rothschild House Opening

Rothschild House 418 Taylor Street, Port Townsend, WA

Saturday, April 29, 12:00 - 2:00 PM at the Rothschild House Free, no registration required but donations are appreciated! Join us for a special reopening celebration of the 1868 Rothschild House with an open house and picnic! Come celebrate the unique objects within the home, our wonderful public lands, and stories of the Rothschild family! Bring a picnic, take in the views from the bluff, enjoy lawn games (croquet, anybody?), and tour this very special 154-year-old house. This free event will kick off our 2023 season at the Rothschild House. Regular open hours will be 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM, Fridays and Saturdays starting May 5. Visit our historic houses page for more information about the house and the Rothschild family, plus accessibility and parking information to help you plan your visit.

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 […]

Vanishing Murals of Port Townsend

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

This tour will introduce you to some of the faded ghost murals hiding in plain sight throughout our downtown district.

July 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.