Adopted by the Board of Trustees on July 20, 2026

Mission Statement

The Olympia Historical Society and Bigelow House Museum preserves and shares the history and heritage of Olympia and the Bigelow House in a way that recognizes and values the diversity of rich cultures that gave rise to our community, is inclusive of all persons and perspectives, and informs and engages community members and visitors.

I. Enhance visibility through increased programming, events and outreach in the community.

  1. Increase programming and events.
    1. Support the Programs Committee to plan and execute a series of annual programs, tours, book club discussions and programs/events at the Bigelow House Museum, such as Equality Day and/or another summer neighborhood event.
      1. Recruit partner organizations and volunteers to plan, execute, and, when appropriate, fund programs and events.
      2. Seek opportunities to sponsor, plan or support programs/events that highlight groups that are underrepresented in the local historic narrative and involve representatives from these groups.
    2. Explore creation of a hands-on movable display that can be used at multiple events and locations.
    3. Support the Events Committee to plan, fund and execute the annual Holiday Historic Home Tour and other fundraising events.
  2. Increase outreach.
    1. Build relationships with other heritage organizations.
      1. Explore creation of a “passport” that would be accepted across multiple heritage organizations.
      2. Cultivate the ongoing relationship with Olympia Heritage Commission and explore potential relationship with the Olympia Youth Council.
    2. Create/resurrect an outreach committee to develop a plan to market OHS&BHM to the public that assures that our work is appropriately visible.
    3. Continue outreach and relationship building with tribes.
      1. Continue Squaxin blessing at our annual meeting, and land acknowledgments at meeting and tours.
      2. Continue interpretation of Native elements on Bigelow House property.
    4. Develop new system for acknowledging volunteer participation in the Holiday Home Tour.
    5. Enlarge the corps of volunteers for the museum, garden, and society activities, foster a sense of involvement and ownership, and encourage development of experiences and skills that benefit both the volunteers and society.
      1. Seek volunteers from membership.
        1. Send a member survey soliciting interest in volunteering at specified events and ascertaining general volunteer interest, as well as interest in participating on board committees.
      2. Seek volunteers from schools.
      3. Inventory annual community events and have a presence at selected events.
      4. Increase recognition for volunteers through specific recognition events, personal notes, our newsletter, and involvement in professional development and social activities.

II. Maintain and safeguard the Bigelow House Collection and ensure continued stewardship of the OHS collection at TESC.

  1. Bigelow House Collection
    1. Move appropriate items from the Bigelow House collection to TESC.
    2. Inventory and evaluate what items are stored in the shed and what should be done with them.
    3. Digitize select items in the Bigelow House Collection and create a searchable database.
    4. Determine how to use the collection as a teaching tool and how to use it in support of America 250.
  2. OHS Collection
    1. Continue to evaluate appropriate items for the OHS collection stored at TESC.
    2. Monitor TESC work on digitization of the OHS collection and usage of collection by the college and public.
    3. Coordinate with TESC about opportunities to promote the presence and availability of the collection to students and the community, and explore available opportunities to promote the collection as a teaching tool.
    4. Check in periodically with TESC Archives staff about management issues.

III. In partnership with AHA, continue to support and enhance the vision of the Olympia Arts and Heritage Museum.

  1. Event support
    1. Support First Fridays with displays and exhibits.
    2. Look for opportunities for co-sponsored events.
    3. Assure coordination of OHS&BHM Program Committee with AHA staff and include other entities as appropriate (i.e. Olympia Heritage Commission, TESC, etc.).
  2. Administrative coordination
    1. Explore a joint social event (or, in the alternative, a joint board meeting) between both boards and staff.
    2. Extend invitation to AHA volunteers to tour the Bigelow House.
    3. Consider establishing a volunteer exchange program.

IV. Enhance internal systems and funding to assure viability of our organization and the Bigelow House into the future.

  1. Internal systems
    1. Develop succession planning for volunteers and board members.
    2. Develop policies and procedures for copyright, privacy and handling of funds.
    3. Develop a process for integrating documents onto the Google Drive.
    4. Create a new technology committee and adopt a committee charter.
    5. Provide ongoing technical and content oversight of olympiahistory.org plus google accounts; implement enhancements and functionalities as needed.
    6. Develop a process for recruiting and orienting new board members.
    7. Finalize committee charters and develop structures and processes for each.
    8. Develop job descriptions for officers; periodically review and update staff job descriptions.
    9. Activate a management team composed of executive committee, staff, and interested board members with regularly scheduled meetings.
  2. Funding
    1. Continue to seek grants for program and operational support, including Inspire Olympia.
    2. Create and publish a list of capital/programmatic needs for targeting cash/in-kind donations.
      1. Update list of capital needs for the Bigelow House so that specific funding for maintenance projects can be pursued.
    3. Monitor success of Easton funds transferred to the Community Foundation.