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Permanent Exhibit Renovation – Exhibit Brief
The Vashon Heritage Museum is renovating its permanent exhibits. We have heard many stories about life on Vashon-Maury Island from our community through meetings, community surveys and conversations and providing guidance and valuable input into our plans for the Permanent Exhibit.
The Exhibit Brief is a document that outlines the “Big Idea” of the museum’s proposed plan for the permanent exhibit. This document outlines the ideas, goals, and organization of what will become the permanent exhibit. While not a final document, this serves as our current roadmap and we look forward to receiving your feedback on this document.
The exhibit will examine the history of our island. From its formation and geographical features to the stories of the diverse people who helped to make the island what it is today. The stories we have collected and will continue to collect will be considered for inclusion in the permanent exhibit and
If you have photographs or objects that you would like to donate that will support your story, be sure to let us know!
Thank you to our sustaining sponsor!
Comments(6)
steve bergman says:
June 21, 2021 at 9:09 pmTom DeVries and I have been involved in the Natural Wonders exhibit with Bianca, Maria and others on the geologic portion of the exhibit outside and we would be happy to contribute geologic content for the permanent exhibit inside to fill the need for the “forces that shaped the island” part of the “place & environment” theme-don’t hesitate to let us know if you would like to talk more, thanks.
Peter Woodburn says:
June 22, 2021 at 11:48 amThanks so much Steve!!!
steve bergman says:
December 10, 2022 at 9:10 amA simple solution would be to make the outside Natural Wonders Geology exhibit part of the permanent exhibit.
Keith Prior says:
June 29, 2021 at 3:16 pmWhat would you like to see in an exhibit about the history of Vashon-Maury Island?
It is my interest to know more about the indigenous people of Vashon-Maury Islands: the ceremonial, cultural, livelihoods of these people. The exhibits so far have touched upon this to the extent that space and materials are available. I am particularly interested in the upcoming pole exhibit.
The legends told by various writers are of particular interest to me as they speak to the spiritual connection of livelihood to sustaining a non-nomadic people.
What makes Vashon-Maury special to you?
I came first to Vashon in 1948 for summers until 1963 and a permanent resident in 2017. I am endeared to the place, the people, the environment, and the politics.
What is your family’s history on this island?
The islands are imbedded in my family history: I am a third generation (mother’s side); and sort of second generation (father’s side) islander. My mother grew up summering in Burton starting in 1918 and two of her sisters became summer and permanent residents of Vashon (Kallsen and Beall). I came first to Vashon in 1948 for summers until 1963 and a permanent resident in 2017.
How have ferries affected your life?
I only commuted via ferry for one year in the early 60s and have seldom felt any negative impact on my life. I, like a few other islanders, find the ferries themselves a suitable topic for photography.
What did you or your family do for work?
My mother was a Red Cross volunteer and home-maker (as the expression goes). Her history on Vashon was the impetus for the rest of us to start summering here. My father only came a few times as he was busy managing two companies in California. My mother’s sisters married Ferguson Beall and Bob Kallsen both of whom were also homemakers with hobbies.
I worked in the orchid side of the Beall Greenhouse Company.
What stories about the people on this island haven’t been told?
As above: the legends of the first people.
I only discovered two years ago that an uncle (an older brother of my father) lived on Vashon at two different times in the very early 20th century working for Standard Oil/Chevron.
The Vashon News Record is a wonderful source of history and stories and thinking. It would be really keen to find a way of making these available as a searchable chronicle of the island. (I did muck about in this to no particularly good result.)
Two years ago I proposed a pop-up exhibit of the Galactic Geoduck Championship; an event put on over 34 years at the Governor’s Lane end of SW 99th Avenue by a lawyer, an architect, and a psychiatrist. For obvious reasons that could not come about.
There are a large number of contemporaries that have stories that have significance to those characters in the story. The Larsen (Tom, Bud, et al) would find interesting the journey Tom Larsen took in emulating George McCormick’s hike around Vashon and Maury Island.
Peter Woodburn says:
July 6, 2021 at 7:53 amThanks Keith!!!
Michael Kenneth Hemp says:
April 13, 2022 at 3:46 pmI am hoping to learns much as possible about the Martinolich boatbuilding presence on Maury Island at/near Dockton. I will contact you by phone for more specific information, but I found it unusual that no mention of Martinolich seems to appear anywhere on your site, at least as much of it as I have reviewed.
An excellent Hertiage site by any means. I look forward to visiting from Gig Harbor (Wauna) sometime soon.