January Newsletter

Holidays are sentimental times. Memories from the past surface. Nostalgia overtakes us. But here at the Kitsap History Museum, remembering special people and times is what we do all year.

A few days ago, after a conversation about an especial treasure in our archive, our curator surfaced with gloved hands to show us that artifact — a beautiful, framed gold-tone photo taken by renowned photographer Edward Curtis. Dated 1913 and titled Homeward, the photo depicts a dugout canoe with five people returning in the fading late afternoon light. As we looked at the evocative photo, we were moved not just by the quiet beauty of the scene, but by knowing this wonderful photo is in our collection.

Edward and his brother Asahel, also a photographer, grew up in Gorst.

We depend on financial support from friends like you. 40% of our income comes from individual donors. We ask that you consider the Kitsap History Museum in your annual giving. Thank you for your ongoing support!

Call for Artists: Indigenous People’s Mural

Kitsap History Museum invites local artists to transform a blank wall into a vibrant work of art illustrating the theme of “Cultural Permanence” in our permanent Indigenous Peoples exhibit. This exhibit focuses on the Tribes on the Kitsap Peninsula – Suquamish, Port Gamble S’Klallam, and Skokomish. 

This project was funded by several generous donors on Giving Tuesday!

We’re excited this mural will become part of our permanent exhibits.

*NEW* Virtual Exhibit

RISING ABOVE THE AMERICAN DREAM:

FILIPINO AMERICAN PIONEERS

The Manila Galleon Trade brought the first Filipinos to what is now known as the United States 30 years before the Pilgrims arrived. Filipinos fled Spanish ships into Mexico to escape the brutal conditions of slavery….

History UnCorked: Prints of Wales

Fascinating history of one of Bremerton’s legendary photographers from the early 20th century.

Snacks, drinks, and socializing starts at 7:00, program starts at 7:15

Or let us know you’re coming with a phone call 360.479.6226 or reply to this email.

Join us at the museum with Puget Sound Navy Museum curator Megan Churchwell to learn about the life and photography of H.E. Wale. Wale photographed events and locations in Bremerton in the early 1900s. His photography is the subject of many vintage and antique postcards that captured the architecture and culture of the era. Megan will show examples of his photography and talk about his life before and behind the camera.

 Kitsap History Museum’s Diamond Jubilee

This year marks our 75th anniversary! We’ll be celebrating our Diamond Jubilee all year by bringing you photos and stories from 1948 – like this one of when Harry Truman visited Bremerton and spoke from on top of the Elk’s building on Pacific in Downtown Bremerton, June 10, 1948.

KHM Archives: 1988.015.561.007

Spotlight on Claudia Hunt

My volunteering with the museum began as a member of the Historic Sites Committee in 2006. Our crowning achievement was producing a Historic Sites walking map. In 2011, the year I retired from PSNS, I was elected to the Board of Trustees. Since then; I’ve co-written two books for the museum, helped edit the re-printing of our ‘Green Book’, submitted weekly Time Capsule features to the Kitsap Sun newspaper for years, and worked on the Heritage Family Committee to produce the historical segment for the honored families. I’m still on the Board of Trustees and currently sit at the front desk on Fridays to greet visitors and answer the phone

The desire to record our stories before they are lost motivates me to do this work. I love finding out about the routes the pioneers took to get here and how the community was built utilizing their unique talents. Their stories remind me how similar our paths have been.

I love so many favorite artifacts in our collection! The textile collection is incredible. As an accomplished seamstress, I appreciate the skill and creativity shown in the garments and other articles accomplished with more primitive machines.

Edward Curtis’ gold tone photograph ‘Homecoming’ is a thing of beauty and a real treasure donated by one of our early members, Rosamond Johnson.