Historic preservation

The dry wood and poor drainage around these 1890's cabins were evident in this before image (above) .

Guy Waring's 1897 cabin before cleaning, oiling and pest treatment (above)

Treatment in progress:The dark side is where oil has been applied on the Guy Waring "Castle."

Rehabilitation of historic buildings

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.

Volunteers basking in the satisfaction of a job well done.

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!