Archives & Collections

We’re excited to begin making our photography collection accessible to the public! We’ve started with one of our largest collections, the Harry Ward Collection.

Harry Ward was a prolific professional photographer from Port Orchard, Washington, who captured decades of photographs that document everyday life and special events in the history of Kitsap County, Washington.

Harry lived from 1879 – 1976. Mr. Ward donated his photography collection to the Kitsap History Museum.

As part of our ongoing efforts, we will continue to expand public access to more of our photography collection over time.

Our collections include over 40,000 artifacts and textiles, more than 100,000 photographs and images and extensive archival documents and materials of Kitsap County.

The museum also maintains a large collection of farming, fishing and logging artifacts in the Rural Heritage Building located at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds in Bremerton.

Textiles. The Museum has the largest collection in the county.  Items include military uniforms, formal and casual clothing and quilts dating to the late 1800’s.

Artifacts. Furniture, tools, household items, clocks, machines, sports equipment, artwork, and handicrafts.

Photographs. Over 100,000 negatives, prints and slides including daguerrotypes and glass slides.  Significant holdings include the collections of Harry Ward, Walter Gowdy and Jack Bell.

Archival Materials. Documents include newspaper clippings, books, maps, scrapbooks, oral histories, records of service and community organizations, and obituaries.