Washington State History Museum

At the end of 1946, the population of Richland, WA, began to skyrocket. After WWII, Hanford immediately began its new task: increasing production and stockpiling nuclear weapons for the Cold War. This involved bringing in thousands of new employees and their families, all needing homes.

After being appointed manager in 1947, Carelton Shugg immediately focused all of Hanford’s energy on construction. His first priority? Housing. To accommodate the steadily increasing population of Hanford, Shugg ordered barracks from the old Naval Air Station in Pasco to be transported to the North Richland camp. These images show the barracks being transported up the Columbia River on barges. The area continued to deal with housing shortages until 1957 when the government sold Richland real estate to its residents.

Join us next Saturday, September 28, from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM for the free Fenbert Challenging History Lecture to learn more about the untold stories of the Hanford Nuclear Site with Robert Franklin, assistant professor at WSU Tri-Cities and assistant director of the Hanford History Project, and Dr. Shannon Cram, author of "Unmaking the Bomb: Environmental Cleanup and the Politics of Impossibility," as they shed light on the complex and often overlooked history of one of the most significant sites in American history.

The Henry R. Fenbert Challenging History Fund generously underwrites this program. Register at: https://bit.ly/FenbertChallengingHistory

From WSHS Collections:
“Transporting barracks on Columbia River” Pasco, WA. October 7, 1947. ID: 2005.171.7
“Moving of barracks from Pasco Naval Air Station to Hanford Nuclear Reservation” Pasco, WA. October 7, 1947. ID: 2005.171.6

2023 IN THE SPIRIT People's Choice Award winner Timothy O'Connell (Jamestown S'Klallam) submitted two more of his landscapes into this year's exhibition.

"This is a series based on photos taken from the Bainbridge to Seattle ferry. The technique combines painterly realism with Coast Salish design. The importance of water travel is built into the S'Klallam Language. The title of the piece is untranslated to highlight the language, and an English translation would lack the nuance of the phrase.​"

IN THE SPIRIT is on view at the Washington State History Museum through September 29.

Timothy O'Connell (Jamestown S'Klallam) "hiyáʔ ʔúx̣ʷ c̓áʔ ʔaʔ cə skʷáči" 2024, oil on canvas, 18" x 24.", "hiyáʔ ʔúx̣ʷ t̓ákʷi" 2024, oil on canvas, 18" x 24."

On this day in Washington (September 20, 1971) two Seattle men lit the fire in the battle for same-sex marriage in this state. John Singer (Faygele Ben Miriam) and Paul Barwick walked into the King County auditor’s office and “demanded” a license. At the direction of then Deputy Prosecutor Norm Maleng, the county auditor denied the request, a decision upheld by the State Court of Appeals. When same-sex marriages were recognized in Washington 41 years later, hundreds of couples seeking licenses lined the halls of the King County Administration Building. The first license was granted to octogenarians Jane Abbott Lighty and Pete-e Petersen, partners for over 35 years.

Image from Museum of Industry and History Collection. Photograph of John Singer (left) and Paul Barwick applying for marriage license. Creation date 1971. Tom Bartlet photo, Seattle P-I. Catalog number: 1986.5.55086.2.

Post written courtesy of David J. Jepsen at davidjjepsen.com

A new permanent gallery from the Puyallup Valley Chapter - Japanese American Citizens Leaguehas recently been opened at the Washington State Fairgrounds. The "Remembrance Gallery" is located under the grandstands and honors the 7,500 people of Japanese ancestry who were forcibly removed and incarcerated at the fairgrounds during World War II as part of Executive Order 9066.

You can learn more about this project at: https://puyallupvalleyjacl.org/gallery/

FREE Third Thursday is today, September 19! Visit the museum for FREE from 3:00 - 6:00 PM and discover the stories of the largest river system in the Pacific Northwest at our latest exhibition 'Big River: The Columbia’s Many Meanings,' and check out amazing new contemporary Native art from across the PNW at IN THE SPIRIT before the exhibition closes on September 19!

And from 4:30 - 7:30 PM, make your own historical ink rubbing with Professor Vernon Ng at our Ink Rubbing Workshop! Find out about how Professor Ng is documenting historical markers through his project, the Tacoma Inspection Tour.

More info: https://bit.ly/3itBwxZ

#261 - Explore how history connects us at the Washington State History Museum located in Tacoma. Founded in 1891, the Washington State Historical Society is dedicated to collecting, preserving, and vividly presenting Washington's rich and storied history. Walk the architecturally stunning facility while taking in the featured exhibits. (Photo via Pierce County)
Tacoma - Pierce County Tourism Authority

Make an ink rubbing and take a (historical) journey down the Columbia River tomorrow for FREE Third Thursday at the Washington State History Museum! Explore the history of the great Columbia River, and bring the whole family to a hands-on activity that’s fun for everyone.

👉 Learn all about Chinese-style ink rubbings in a lecture and demonstration from Professor Vernon Ng, then make your own!

👉 Experience our immersive exhibition ‘Big River: The Columbia's Many Meanings’ through a showcase of photographs, artwork, artifacts, and interactive elements.

Plus, check out our permanent exhibitions like ‘Washington, My Home,’ ‘360,’ ‘News of the Day’ and more!

More info: https://bit.ly/3itBwxZ

An original glass plate negative, Asahel Curtis took this photograph of an automobile party to make a postcard. Pictured at the Holy Names Academy and Normal School in Seattle, this September 1908 photograph provides a glimpse into early car culture in Washington, with the arrival of the first car in 1900.

In 1908, Seattle was buzzing with excitement over automobiles, which were still a relatively new technology. A notable event, the Great New York to Paris Auto Race, passed through Seattle. This race was a grueling 169-day journey that started in Times Square and included a stop in Seattle before continuing to Paris.

Additionally, Seattle’s Auto Row on Pike and Pine Streets became a hub for automotive businesses, reflecting the growing interest in cars. This area was densely packed with dealerships, repair shops, and other automotive-related businesses, making it a focal point for car enthusiasts in the city.

Asahel Curtis was one of the Pacific Northwest's most prolific photographers, documenting an unfiltered view of life in our region. Please consider making a gift to help us meet the goal of making the Asahel Curtis Collection of 60,000 images available in its entirety, freely accessible to all, through full digitization. https://bit.ly/CurtisCollection

Image from WSHS collection: Automobile Party, Holy Names Academy and Normal School. Seattle, WA. Photo by Asahel Curtis. Creation date: September 1908. Catalog ID: 1943.42.10955.

Join us for free Third Thursdays at the Washington State History Museum to celebrate Filipino American History Month. In Filipino, the word “laban” means “to fight.” This community event will explore the Filipino fighting spirit and its contributions to American history. It will feature community organizations, vendors, performances, demonstrations, and a panel discussion highlighting Filipino American heritage and history.

This program is curated in partnership with the Filipino American National Historical Society- Greater Puget Sound Chapter.

https://bit.ly/LabanWA

Are you an experienced archivist who loves working with historical materials, enjoys processing, digitizing, cataloging, and providing research access for the public to important and valuable historical materials? If so, we have the role for you!

Join our team as an archivist and help preserve and maintain the museum's special collections using industry best practices. This full-time, permanent position offers a salary range between $3,999 - $5,370 per month with a Monday-Friday, 8 AM - 5 PM schedule (some flexibility available). Two positions are available.

Closing Date is September 26, 2024 (Apply ASAP as reviews start immediately!) Don’t miss this opportunity to work with an amazing team dedicated to preserving Washington's history. Apply now!

https://bit.ly/4e1CHzB

This year's Pacific Northwest History Conference, 'History, Everywhere, All at Once,' dives deep into how historical research, public engagement, and education are helping us make sense of our collective present and shape a hopeful future.

We're excited for this opportunity to hang out with fellow 'history nerds' and share our work with scholars, students, and other heritage professionals across the Pacific Northwest!

The conference takes place October 18-19 in Portland, and if you're curious check out the program and more details here:https://www.ohs.org/events/upload/PNW-History-Conference-Program_090524.pdf

Feeding the workers of the Hanford Site was a colossal task. During its height in World War II, eight mess halls served meals 24 hours a day to the 51,000 workers. They would purchase all-you-can-eat meals for $0.67 ($12.18 in 2024) a day. The workers ate quickly at long tables family-style and were pressured to move along in order to feed the large queues of people waiting for a meal.

Join us on Saturday, September 28, from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM for the free Fenbert Challenging History Lecture to learn more about the untold stories of the Hanford Nuclear Site. Historian Robert Franklin, assistant professor at WSU Tri-Cities and assistant director of the Hanford History Project, will join Dr. Shannon Cram, author of "Unmaking the Bomb: Environmental Cleanup and the Politics of Impossibility," in conversation to shed light on the complex and often overlooked history of one of the most significant sites in American history.

The Henry R. Fenbert Challenging History Fund generously underwrites this program. Register at: https://bit.ly/FenbertChallengingHistory

Image from WSHS Collection: Mess Hall - Construction Camp - H.E.W. Photo by Robley L. Johnson. Richland, WA. 1947. ID: 2006.134.2

It's a once-in-a-century party!

Join our friends at National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on Saturday, September 28th to celebrate the first world flight 100 years ago, when American Army Air Service pilots completed the first flight around the world—and it all ended right here in Seattle!

This four-day event packed with excitement, like vintage air shows, live music & performances, food trucks, and family-friendly activities at The Museum of Flight & Magnuson Park. Meet adventure pilots and catch a screening of aviation film 'Legends in the Sky.'

For more information, check out this YouTube video: https://bit.ly/4e23vjo

And their website here: https://bit.ly/3z9rPRg

Today we are sharing the work of first-time IN THE SPIRIT artist Amber Spindel.

"Amber Spindel, a proud member of the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe, born and raised in Washington! Surrounded by colorful community artwork and talented family artists since childhood, she's been on a creative journey ever since. With a BFA from DigiPen Institute of Technology, Amber merges traditional and modern Northwest art with flair. From painting to digital design, she breathes life into her vibrant creations, infusing them with dynamic energy and splashes of color across various mediums, including acrylics, watercolors, charcoal, and digital art."

IN THE SPIRIT is on view at the Washington State History Museum through September 29. You can see more of her work at rezilientshop.com.

Images courtesy of the artist. "Spirit of the Whale" Amber Spindel (Port Gamble S'Klallam), 2023, Digital Painting, ultra premium presentation paper, ink 14"x 11"

Check out these amazing ink rubbings from Tacoma artist and Professor Vernon Ng and come to the museum next Thursday September 19th from 4:30-7:00 PM for FREE Third Thursdays to make your own!

Ink rubbings date back to the 7th Century AD, during the Tang Dynasty, and have since developed into an important technology to preserve historical markers and inscriptions.

Learn about Chinese-style ink rubbings in this lecture, demonstration, and audience Q&A from Professor Ng. His Tacoma Artists Initiative Program-funded project “Tacoma Inspection Tour” adapts classical Chinese scholarly practices to examine the history of race and ethnicity—and its public representation—in Pierce County. Through a series of ink rubbings and landscape photographs, his project explores local sites that hold complex, overlapping meanings especially for Asian American and Native communities.

More info: https://bit.ly/3WZaLFw

Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe artist Eugene Landry (1937–1988) was a gifted painter who captured local scenery and people. After his death, he was largely forgotten outside the Tribe until artist and biographer artist Judith Altruda began interviewing relatives of the artist and seeking out his art—but for the most part, it was nowhere to be found, and she was only able to locate a few works.

Until she contacted the former caregiver of the artist’s father.

“On a freezing February morning in 2019, accompanied by my friend Marcy Merrill, a photographer, I met the woman outside a dilapidated building in Grayland. She unlocked the door, apologizing for the cold inside---the power had been shut off years ago. Marcy and I climbed a set of rough timber stairs, rodent droppings crunching underfoot, flashlights on, the air thick with mold and dust.

The attic was filled with garbage bags stuffed with clothing and leftover garage sale items. I lifted a bedsheet from a pile of stacked art; the first items were generic prints like something out of a hotel room. My disappointment turned to exhilaration however when I uncovered an original Landry still life sandwiched within the lesser works…We carried each painting down the stairs, dusted them off, and Marcy photographed each piece, front and back. The decision to purchase them came a few weeks later.”

Experience these rare paintings and more at ‘What is Native Art? Eugene Landry and the Creative Spirit,’ opening September 22 at the Washington State History Museum. Learn about Landry’s creativity, spirit, and legacy: https://bit.ly/3AFSbKK

Image credits:

Eugene Landry, Still Life with Mask and Baskets, 16"x24" oil on canvas, 1965. Courtesy of Marcy Merrill.

Eugene Landry, Decaying Boat, 21"x 24" oil on panel 1964. Courtesy of Marcy Merrill.

Eugene Landry, Brown's Point, 16"x 18" lithograph, 1978. Courtesy of Marcy Merrill.

Asahel Curtis took this image of the Senor’s from the Moran School football team on December 19, 1921. The Moran School, located on Bainbridge Island, Washington, was a private military-style academy founded by Frank G. Moran in 1914. By 1921, it was known for preparing young men for attendance at the United States Naval Academy and the United States Coast Guard Academy.

It was a prestigious institution, attracting students from well-off Seattle families. Notable alumni include Nobel Prize-winning physicist Walter Houser Brattain and influential architect John Yeon. While Curtis’ handwritten notecards provide a glimpse into where these young men were, it does not provide who they were. We’d love to know if you recognize a family member!

Asahel Curtis was one of the Pacific Northwest's most prolific photographers, documenting an unfiltered view of life in our region. Please consider making a gift to help us meet the goal of making the Asahel Curtis Collection of 60,000 images available in its entirety, freely accessible to all, through full digitization. https://bit.ly/CurtisCollection

Image from WSHS collection: Moran School, Football Team, Seniors. Bainbridge Island, WA. Photo by Asahel Curtis. Creation date: December 19, 1921. Catalog ID: 1943.42.43128.

On this day in Washington (Sept. 10, 1951), Seattle’s television viewers watched the premiere of Early Edition, the city’s first local news program. Produced by broadcasting pioneer KING-TV, the 15-minute show featured Charles H. Herring Jr. as host. The fledgling show, aired from the back of a store on Queen Anne Hill, made history but not broad viewership. In 1950, fewer than nine percent of Americans owned TVs, which were black and white with rounded, sixteen-inch screens. Most baby boomers probably better remember KING’s award-winning children’s programming. Throughout the 1950s, kids of all ages tuned into Stan Boreson’s Clubhouse, the stories of Wunda Wunda, the sing-alongs with Sheriff Tex.

Image from University of Washington Special Collections. Charles Herring at news desk. Creation date ca. 1953. Photographer: Forde Photographers. Collection number: 1315.66.

Post written courtesy of David J. Jepsen at davidjjepsen.com

The ‘Many Meanings’ postcard wall at our Big River exhibition is filled with fantastic drawings and messages from students and visitors who love the Columbia River!

Check out some of the most recent postcards here, and visit ‘Big River: The Columbia’s Many Meanings’ to learn about the people who built their lives and livelihoods around the Columbia River and write postcard telling us why the river is special to you!

Learn more: https://bit.ly/4aXD24X

In 2019, artist Judith Altruda made a stunning discovery: around 70 forgotten paintings by Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe artist Eugene Landry, hidden away in a barn.

Now, these vibrant works—created between 1960 and 1979—are coming to the Washington State History Museum in an expanded exhibition, 'What is Native Art? Eugene Landry and the Creative Spirit.'

Running from September 22, 2024, to March 30, 2025, this exhibition offers a rare glimpse into Landry’s creative journey and the pivotal moments in his Tribe’s history.

More info: https://bit.ly/3AFSbKK

In 1943, engineers at the Hanford Nuclear Site were facing challenges. Because of Hanford's remote location and secrecy, there were high rates of employee turnover and general dissatisfaction. Colonel Franklin Matthias devised a recreation program for the Hanford site employees to boost morale, including live entertainment, movies, organized sports, and drinks.

Luzell Johnson, who became a cement finisher at Hanford in 1944, fondly recalled playing baseball with other workers. "There was (sic) some pretty good ball players from all over the country… on Memorial Day some big team from back East would come out and play the best Hanford players. The professionals usually won."

Join us on Saturday, September 28th at 5:30 PM for the 3rd annual Henry R. Fenbert Challenging History Lecture - Hanford History Project. Uncover the hidden histories of the Hanford Nuclear Site as historian Robert Franklin shares new findings and unique perspectives about the site with Dr. Shannon Cram, author of "Unmaking the Bomb."

Register for your free tickets at https://bit.ly/FenbertChallengingHistory

This program is generously underwritten by the Henry R. Fenbert Challenging History Fund.

“Free dance, 201 Recreation Center, Saturday, Dec. 30th, 9: PM, Lindy's Orchestra” Scrapbook page, December 1944. Catalog ID: 2007.29.2.41

Alaska-based artist James Hart (Lingit) submitted another of his beautiful formline pieces to this year's IN THE SPIRIT.

"Transformation is a piece that was created to push myself as an artist. My clan crest is a frog and I tend to lean that way when creating because it brings a timestamp to who I am and where my growth has been in my artist Career."

IN THE SPIRIT is on view at the Washington State History Museum through September 29.

James Hart (Lingit) "Transformation" 2023, acrylic on deer hide, 16" x 2".

On this day in Washington (September 5, 1917), Camp Lewis, now Joint Base Lewis-McCord, opened. Named after Meriwether Lewis, captain of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, the new military facility was home to the Army’s 91st Division. Draftees and enlistees left jobs in the forests, mines and farms to serve their country in World War I. In 1918, the Pacific Monthly called the 91st “the romantic legions of the world’s fiction, gathering from all the fringes of the last frontier.” After nearly a year of training, the 91st shipped out to France. They fought bravely in the Battle of Meuse-Argonne, helping to destroy the German First Guard Division, and sealing victory in “the war to end all wars.”

Image from WSHS collection. Photograph of Fort Lewis Men. Creation date: 1917. Catalog ID: 2017.2.182.

Post written courtesy of David J. Jepsen at davidjjepsen.com

Craftmanship. Dedication. Tradition. Artistry.

Discover how brothers Earl and Floyd Willits turned their passion for boatbuilding into a legacy, building over 900 meticulously designed wooden canoes right here in Tacoma, WA.

Our upcoming exhibition, 'Makers on the Tide: The Willits Brothers and Their Handcrafted Canoes' opens October 5, 2024.

The Willits Brothers fascinating journey started from humble beginnings in the Midwest to becoming masters of canoe construction on Day Island. Their dedication to perfection is world renowned, with each canoe bearing their signature and crafted with the utmost care.

Don’t miss this unique chance to see examples of their iconic 17-foot cedar strip canoes, including the famous Artondale model.

Plus, experience the premiere of a brand-new documentary by Tacoma filmmaker Mick Flaaen, bringing the brothers’ story to life in vivid detail.

https://bit.ly/3yJSa8h

Image credits:

Manufacturing a Willits Canoe, around 1921. Courtesy of Tacoma Public Library Northwest Room.

Floyd Willits preparing for the manufacture of a canoe, about 1921. Courtesy of Tacoma Public Library Northwest Room.

Willits Bros advertisement courtesy of https://bit.ly/3Ta8KoR.

The image by Asahel Curtis captures the original eight-classroom building of TT Minor Elementary School in 1906. Located at 1700 E Union Street, the address has been a center for public education since 1890 and is currently the home of the Seattle World School.

Although primarily an elementary school, it temporarily housed the School of the Deaf in the 1920s and 30s, and in the 1940s, it provided English and citizenship education to immigrants.

In 1940, after 50 years, the original building was demolished and replaced with a modern building with more classrooms and amenities to serve Seattle's growing population.

Asahel Curtis was one of the Pacific Northwest's most prolific photographers, documenting an unfiltered view of life in our region. Please consider making a gift to help us meet the goal of making the Asahel Curtis Collection of 60,000 images available in its entirety, freely accessible to all, through full digitization. https://bit.ly/CurtisCollection

Image from WSHS collection: Minor School. Seattle, WA. Photo by Asahel Curtis. Creation date: June 6, 1906. Catalog ID: 1943.42.503.

Family Saturdays are BACK at the History Museum, and we're kicking off the school year with a colorful adventure!

Join us on Saturday, September 7, from 10:30 to 11:30 AM for a fun-filled morning of Storytime and creativity. This month, we’ll dive into the vibrant world of the book "Shapes and Colors" by John Canty.

After the story, we'll explore the beautiful colors at the IN THE SPIRIT exhibition and then kids (and adults!) can create their very own color collage to take home! This program is perfect for our youngest historians—ages 2 to 8—and their families, but everyone is welcome!

Best of all, it's included with admission.

Don’t miss out on this wonderful opportunity to enrich your child's school year with art, history, and fun!

https://bit.ly/3MnR0Cz

On this day in 1889, an EPIC bicycle race took place in Tacoma, WA. As this poster describes, six men are placed at equal distances around the track, with each trying to overtake the other. When the person gets passed, they are OUT. There is “no chance for teamwork or jockeying.”

The flyer promised that “This will be the greatest race ever witnessed in Tacoma…this race is entirely new and those that have seen it pronounce it the most exciting race of this exciting sport.”

Whether your plans for Labor Day are this exciting (or not!), enjoy yourself! It sounds like Frank J. Cotter sure did.

Image credit: Handbill announcing Tacoma Labor Day 1899 bicycle races, to be held on the Y.M.C.A. grounds in Tacoma, WA. Describes races scheduled and main participants, Frank J. Cotter and Virgil Hall. Ephemera. Catalog ID: 1903.1.347.

Explore new exhibitions and programming this month at the Washington State History Museum!

📖 September 7 - Family Saturdays - Included with admission. 10:30 to 11:30 AM - Join us for a storytime and activity. We'll read "Shapes and Colors" by John Canty. For children ages 4-10 and their families.

✒️ September 19 - Ink Rubbing Workshop - Tacoma Inspection Tour - 4:30 AM to 7:30 PM - FREE - Learn about Chinese-style ink rubbings from Professor Vernon Ng. Hear about his efforts to document monuments and markers across Tacoma, and try your own wet ink rubbing.

🆓 September 19 - Third Thursdays courtesy of Umpqua Bank. FREE admission from 3:00 - 8:00 PM.

🎨 September 22 - What is Native Art? Eugene Landry and the Creative Spirit exhibition opening - Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe artist Eugene Landry (1937-1988) was a gifted painter who captured local scenery and people. He was largely forgotten outside the Tribe until 2019 when nearly 70 of his paintings were found in a barn by Judith Altruda. Learn about Landry's creative spirit and legacy in this exhibition.

🪂 September 22 - Collections Selections: A Parachute from the D.B. Cooper Investigation exhibition opening - See a parachute recovered by the FBI as evidence in the infamous D.B. Cooper investigation. This singular item remains one of the most requested and intriguing items in the collection.

⚛️ September 28 - 3rd Annual Henry R. Fenbert Challenging History Lecture - Hanford History Project - 5:30 to 7:00 PM - FREE with registration - Join historian Robert Franklin, assistant professor at WSU Tri-Cities and assistant director of the Hanford History Project, as he discusses new research and perspectives from Hanford's history with Dr. Shannon Cram.

🖼️ Special exhibitions on view: "IN THE SPIRIT Contemporary Native Arts" (on view through September 29) "Big River: The Columbia's Many Meanings" The Big River exhibition is made possible by the HD Fowler Company, committed to local communities’ arts, culture, and history for over 100 years.

Cover image "Six days waiting perfect day" Christine Buckminster (Colville/Yakama), 2022. Acrylic on canvas. 40" x 40"

Washington State History Museum

Artist Annette Pierre (Qlispé [Kalispel]) combines incredible artistry and family history in her pictorial basket, "Nk̓ʷnqʷa," 2024, 1mm h**p, brain-tanned hid, dentalium, vintage beads, 8.5" x 7.

"This basket was inspired by a story told to me by Kalispel Tribal elder Francis Cullooyah about my Great Grandfather Charlie Nick. His Indian name was Nk̓ʷnqʷa (One Stick) because at stick game he was renowned for being able to win a game with just one stick remaining. The basket has 200 spokes and over 90 rows, (not including the bottom) there are over 18,000 twists. Each row took me 2 hours to complete."

IN THE SPIRIT is on view at the Washington State History Museum through September 29.

Every Labor Day weekend, the Ellensburg Rodeo, a tradition since 1923, brings together the history of the frontier and the Indigenous cultures. This rodeo, one of the largest in the Pacific Northwest and ranked in the top 25 nationwide, celebrates heritage and the enduring spirit of the local community.

To open the event, members of the Yakama Nation descend Craig’s Hill into the arena to symbolize the traditional path taken by the Tribe before the arrival of settlers. Every night, the rodeo is opened with traditional dances in full regalia. Tribal members originally made their homes on the current fairgrounds and continue to set up a large teepee encampment every year. Jason Buck, 2023 chief of the Yakama Nation Encampment, says they welcome visitors to come and ask questions to learn more about Tribal culture.

The Ellensburg Rodeo includes parades, barrel racing, calf roping, bulldogging, bucking broncos, concerts, carnival, and more!

Images from WSHS Collection: Bob Askins on “Blackbird” Ellensburg Rodeo 1928. Ellensburg, WA. 1928. ID: 1986.66.1.132
Natives at Ellensburg Rodeo. Ellensburg, WA. ca. 1930. ID: 2004.39.5