Shafer Historical Museum
Online Photos & materials
Over 1,000 new images are available in the Shafer Museum's online collections!
A December 2022 upload of many volunteers' dedicated work to digitize the museum's originals means you have a lot more material to browse from home.
View photos, documents and images from the Shafer Museum's archives online.
preserving the past
Historic conservation specialist, Chris Gustafson, owner of Vintage Window Restoration in Astoria, OR led Shafer Museum volunteer crews in cleaning and treating three of the historic log cabins at the museum September 16-25, 2022. Both a volunteer service project AND educational, museum volunteers & historic building owners learned current techniques and environmentally-friendly treatments for wood restoration and preservation.
Summer 2023 we'll be back - to treat the exterior of the Ortell cabin (the Schoolhouse), and the interiors of the Waring "Castle" and the homesteaders cabins. Please join the crew - no expertise is necessary.
The Shafer Museum has applied for a Washington State Capital Heritage Grant (and was ranked 7th out of 28 projects!) to support the rehabilitation work on these buildings. If we get the grant, we'll ALSO be able replace the roofs, repair masonry and update the electrical in these buildings!
So, keep an eye on what's happening in Olympia!
Triple Nickels
Saturday May 20, 2023 - MV Community Center
Exhibit open during Farmer's Market - Presentation 3:00pm
“Jumping into Fire” is a true story of Black American’s patriotism, bravery, and military service in the Pacific Northwest during WWII, presented by historian Robert Bartlett as a lecture and exhibit. Dr. Bartlett shares the history of the 555th Parachute Infantry Company (or the “Triple Nickels”), a little-known company of Black paratroopers who trained as wildland firefighters and jumped right here!
With thanks to Humanities Washington for financial support!
Our Methow Home: Carlton
Friday, March 3 - Carlton Church 7:00-8:30pm
Saturday, March 4 - Twisp Grange 2:00-3:30pm
The fourth in the series of histories about the small communities throughout the Methow Valley, the town of Carlton is the next gem for you learn about with your neighbors!
Why is it named Carlton? Who owned the first store? Who were the Vintin brothers? Come hear tall tales and learn about this little spot nestled on the Methow between Texas Creek to the east and Libby Creek to the west.
With Gratitude to Friends and Donors
The Shafer Museum relies on donations and grants from many supporters to share & preserve Methow Valley history with community members and visitors:
Members and individual donors to the Shafer Museum
GiveMethow donors
The Philadelphia Foundation
Donors through the Seattle Foundation
Hugh and Jane Ferguson Foundation
Twispworks Foundation for COVID-19 relief funds
MethowValley Fund & the Community Foundation of North Central Washington
Sun Mountain Lodge
Humanities Washington and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), as part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) approved by the U.S.Congress and signed into law by President Joseph R. Biden.