Grand Opening of the Trailblazers Exhibit at the Issaquah History Museum
Readers of this newsletter, almost by definition, are people who enjoy and value the public lands and trails surrounding Issaquah, collectively known as the Issaquah Alps. Those natural areas are what they are today not by accident but by intention and action to preserve and protect them. The story of how that came to be is the focus of a new exhibit at the Issaquah History Museum.
The museum has long been capturing and telling the stories of families, businesses, and industries of the Issaquah Valley, but over the last fifty years, a new story has emerged that is worthy of telling – the Issaquah Alps conservation story. The museum’s executive director, Paul Winterstein, organized a team to tell that story in the new exhibit, which debuted to the public on Saturday, April 25, at the Issaquah Depot. A soft opening was held the previous Thursday evening. Here are a few photos of the exhibit and visitors during the soft opening event:
Some of the historic artifacts on display.
The “Tiger Mountain” panel tells one facet of the Issaquah Alps story.
IATC board member Svet Semov chats with Mark Griffith as they view the new exhibit.
After the exhibit viewing, the visitors moved to the depot freight room, where they enjoyed refreshments, heard from Paul about how the exhibit came to be, and received acknowledgments of the project's contributors and supporters.
Executive Director Paul Winterstein welcomed the visitors to the new exhibit.
When asked about the inspiration for the exhibit, Executive Director Winterstein had this to say:
"The Trailblazers exhibit is more than a look back. It is an invitation to connect. At the Issaquah History Museums, our mission is to share local history and the stories of those who fought to save the Issaquah Alps. While many visitors to the museum feel a strong connection to our landscape, they are often unaware of the people who preserved what they love. By teaching this history, we hope to inspire everyone to get involved in protecting the Alps and following the lead of the trailblazers who came before us."
When Paul assembled the team, he was fortunate to find two students in the UW Museology Graduate Program, Neil Pezzoni and Thomas McNulty, who were willing to take on the project as part of their coursework (pictured below).
Neil Pezzoni (left) and Thomas McNulty, enjoying the debut of their handiwork.
Many others had a hand in the project, of course. The exhibit’s closing panel offered a “thank you” to the contributors and sponsors, including the Issaquah Alps Trails Club.
Lastly, the exhibit challenged the visitor to find ways to carry on the work with a quote from club cofounder, Harvey Manning:
“Find a little detail where you can make an impact. Learn where you are living; go out and walk those trails. There ain’t any other place like it.”
The exhibit is well worth a visit. Make plans to see it. The museum at the Issaquah Depot is open on Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM (78 First Ave NE, Issaquah, WA). You can learn more about the work of the IHM at Issaquah History Museums .
[All photos by Tom Anderson]