Tim Ransom, Vice President
Interested in the history of where you live? Want to know more about the people who lived there first, the Native Americans, the pioneers and other early settlers? Want to know what it all looked like twenty, fifty, a hundred years ago? Want to help uncover interesting stories about the “good old days,” and to share them with kids and other members of our community, even your neighbors?
Well, then the Olympia Historical Society is the place for you! In its 10th Anniversary year, the OHS is offering opportunities to volunteers, including those interested in becoming a member of the Board of Trustees, to help fulfill its mission of perpetuating the heritage of Olympia by identifying and collecting historical materials, documenting them through research, and interpreting them through exhibits, presentations and other educational avenues.
The opportunities to get involved are many and varied, from short-term projects to longer-term commitments to organizational growth, including board membership. Activities recently completed or needing to be done, for example, include:
- Staffing an interpretive booth at the Squaxin Tribe’s Canoe Journey event;
- Preparing the interpretive materials for that event—“then” and “now” images of downtown sites that were historically important to Native Americans;
- Helping to plan the future and mission of the Society with Board members and colleagues from other historical groups;
- Setting priorities and conducting business as a member of the Board;
- Establishing a scholarship for history-minded high school students.
OHS is especially in need of at least one more Board member right now (as mandated by the bylaws), but everyone, no matter your level of interest, ability or time available, is welcome to join us in the fascinating work of making Olympia’s history relevant today. Remember: as George Santayana said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” (Sometimes it seems that is not such a bad idea—those “good old days” again—but probably not really!)
Please contact OHS Board member Anne Kilgannon at anneandgary@gmail.com or (360) 357-7191 to find out more.