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Klickitat County Museums & Historical Societies

There are several Museums in Klickitat County. They include the world-famous Maryhill Museum, the K.C.H.S.'s Presby Mansion in Goldendale, the Gorge Heritage Museum in Bingen, the Whoop-n-Holler Museum near Bickleton, the Klickitat Historical Museum at Klickitat, WA., and now the Twin Bridges Museum at Lyle.

The Klickitat County Historical Society is located at the Presby Mansion in Goldendale, and operates it as a Museum. The Presby Mansion was built in 1902, and the Society has filled its 3 floors with furniture, clothing, utensils, and personal effects from the 1880s - 1930s era. The Museum has a small research library containing county records, photographs, cemetery burial lists, and various publications. The Presby Mansion is located at 127 West Broadway, and is open daily April 1 thru October 31, from 9am - 5pm (off season by appointment only), or you can contact them at PO Box 86, Goldendale, WA. 98620. Their telephone number is 509-773-4303. For many years the Society has published The Heritage newsletter which contains interesting and useful research material. Press here for an Index of the articles from the newsletters.
The newest addition, located on the Museum grounds, is a Carriage House which will be used to store and display the antique farm machinery, and a Pioneer School House. Both were completed using volunteer labor, and have been furnished from the Museum's collection, as well as several new items received from generous donors. The School House typifies a turn-of-the-century one-room school, and contains many items typical of that era. If you feel you have an item suitable for either display, and want to donate it or loan it, please contact the Society.

The Gorge Heritage Museum, located at 202 E. Humbolt Street in Bingen, is operated by the West Klickitat County Historical Society. The building which houses the museum is the former Bingen Congregational Church which was dedicated in 1912. The Museum is open late-May thru September, although tours are available year-round. Their telephone number is 509-493-3228, or 509-493-3111, or FAX 509-493-4309. You can also contact them at PO Box 394, Bingen, WA. 98605.
The museum's displays include many items relating to the early history of this area. Display-cases showcase pioneer clothing, household implements, logging and farming tools, medical and surgical equipment, historical documents, newspapers, and Native American artifacts and crafts. Displays include a history of the SDS Lumber Company and of nearby Broughton Lumber, a photographic journey into the construction of near-by Condit Dam on the White Salmon River, and an on-going project of creating a Historical Timeline for Western Klickitat County. The museum also has books and videos available to purchase. A small research library is located on-site, and is available for the patrons' use. Press here for Photographs of interior displays.

The Gorge Heritage Museum's Ruralite scanning project

The Twin Bridges Museum, located in a room at the old Elementary School in Lyle, opened in the Summer of 2007. The focus of their collection is the Lyle area. The Museum is currently open on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6 - 8 p.m. during October and November, or call 509-365-0060 to make an appointment to visit at other times. Their collection consists of photographs, newspaper articles, Lyle(town) and Lyle School histories, mementos and other memorabilia. They gladly accept donations/information which have a connection to this area.

The Eastern Klickitat County Historical Society, P.O. Box 47, Bickleton, WA. 99322, was organized in the Fall of 2004. Their purpose is to preserve the history of Eastern Klickitat County (east of Rock Creek), by collecting documents, information, pictures, family genealogy and stories of the pioneer communities and residents of our area. Society meetings are held the 4th Tuesday of the month at 12:30 p.m., at the Bickleton Grange Hall. No meetings are held in June, July or August. Membership dues are $20.00 per calendar year, and membership includes a quarterly newsletter. The current (November 2009) officers are Chairman, Linda Lasley, linda_dal42@msn.com, Secretary-Treasurer, Barbara Clark, b.b.clark@clark@earthlink.net, and Program Chairman, Ada Ruth Whitmore, whpnhllr@wildblue.net.