Fall is in the air, and local food is plentiful.  

As farmers we've really enjoyed connecting farm fresh food with our Port Angeles community through our Wednesday night street markets, and this week we are adding a new location.  We thank Laurel and Steve Hargis, and originally Jim Moran, for imagining how the North Olympic History Center campus could be a great place to connect in this way with neighbors.  Wild Edge Farm and Hidden Penny Farm invite you to shop local this Wednesday for farm fresh produce and pastured meats.

We have an abundance of carrots, apples, pears, kale, tomatoes, celery, rutabaga, summer squash, cucumbers, broccoli, pork chops, ground beef, country ribs, breakfast sausage and more! 

To see the full array, go to our online farm stand, open for pre-orders now through tomorrow at midnight.  We accept credit/debit cards online, as well as payments at pick up of cash, check, EBT, and SNAP Market Match vouchers.  You can place an order now if you'd like to secure your groceries early, otherwise just shop when you show up!

Details:

5:30 - 6:30 PM Wednesday at the North Olympic Historic Center parking lot off 9th St.  From C St., turn east on 9th St, then make an immediate left through the green gate to where you will see us in the parking lot.  We will be out in front of the beautiful old brick Lincoln School.  A good reminder of the seasons!

7 - 8 PM Wednesday on the corner of Whidby and Eunice.  Enjoy this family-centric and food-centric street market with a view.

Join us on Zoom Thursday, September 9 from 3:00-4:30 p.m. as we explore the work of Erna Gunther, an ethnographer and ethnobotanist from the University of Washington who spent extensive time with the Tribes of the Olympic Peninsula. While researching and writing the “Klallam Ethnography” in the early 1920s, Gunther made multiple trips to Jamestown to interview Tribal ancestors Robert Collier, John and Nora Cook, Mary Hunter-Hall Wood, and Joe, Lilly, and Wilson Johnson about the history of the S’Klallam people.

Zoom Meeting Link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86448714613?pwd=blZMNzU4MGJOMkpCSjBzT1NUUkN0QT09

Meeting ID: 864 4871 4613

Passcode: 096339

The North Olympic History Center welcomes David Brownell as its new Executive Director.   Since 2018 David has been serving as the Tribal Historic Preservation Officer for the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe.   He has been the Tribe’s point of contact on historic and cultural resources.   David has also served on the Clallam County Heritage Advisory Board since 2019.

Growing up with a father contracted to the Air Force, David Brownell spent a lot of time moving from one military base to another, spending time in Ohio, Florida, South Carolina, Texas and overseas in Ankara, Turkey and Florence, Italy.   “These childhood experiences spurred my interest in history and cultures, and later in my graduate studies”, said David.   David received his B.A. in history from Hanover College in 2009 and his M.A. in Public History from Wright State University in 2011.   He was employed as Research Coordinator at Seminole Tribe of Florida’s Tribal Historic Preservation Office prior to moving to WA to work for the Jamestown Tribe. 

David and his wife Emma, a Tribal Citizen of the Jamestown Tribe, own a small farm in Sequim where they raise dairy goats, Kunekune pigs, and chickens.   When they aren't busy on the farm, David and Emma love hiking and exploring the Peninsula with their dogs Atlas and Prairie.

Early this summer, the North Olympic History Center was awarded a Heritage Grant by the Board of County Commissioners. The amount ot the grant, $17,500, will largely fund the  "Cloud Project". This major initiative will convert much of our archival and records collections into digital format.

The first element of the project was to select the software program to be used. There are few programs that closely compete with Past Perfect Museum Software. Since 2012, NOHC has used Past Perfect museum software to catelog the archival collection of approximately 13,000 items. Only recently has Past Perfect been undated to become web-based, meaning that any computer with an internet connection can be used to input information into the database, and ultimately to perform searches on that data. This is important to facilitate work other than on a local computer server. Of significance is that data is backuped up remotely and cannot be lost in the event of a local catrastrophic event.

After making the decision to use Past Perfect Web-based edution, the need to "cleanse" the current database became imperative to eventually convert to the Past Perfect Web Edition. Cleansing entails fixing broken links, removing obsolete and out of date records, and other technical issues. This process was begun in late spring and is expected to be complete in early fall. In the meantime, new computer equipment is being purchased in preparation of transitioning to the new web-based program and inputing data.

We are extremely grateful for our volunteer, Eve Datisman, for working on "Cleansing the database."

Until now, researchers have had to come to the NOHC Research Library, or correspond to have questions on local history answered. The artifact collection was accessible only to those willing to make special arrangements. The Cloud Project will. over time, put much of our collection on-line. The public will be able to search various categories to find items of interest. In this way, the collection will be accessible to anyone with access to the internet.

After the databas cleanse is complete, and the web-based software is tested, the major project of adding records into the database will begin. This will be a never-ending project as objects and records of historical significance are continually added to the collections. Eventually, the on-line collection can be used to develop exhibits for a virtual museum.

As the project develops, we will be recruiting volunteers to perform most of the work. If you would like more information, contact us by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by phone at 360-452-2662.

As of Tuesday, Augut 10, 2021, the NOHC Research Library is open for visitors on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, and otherwise by arrangement. Considering concerns for Covid variants, we request that you wear a mask during your visit. Contact the center to ensure that staff will be present upon your arrival

Research requests can be made by sendin an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or by calling the center at 360-452-2662.

Your Historical Society connects you:

• To the rich history of Clallam County with educational programs like History Tales and other events
• Honors personal histories by collecting, preserving, and sharing
• Makes history a family affair with the Hands on History Program for students in grades 6 - 12
• Helps you find the answers to your questions with a staffed Research Library
• Makes history accessible with programs featuring the collectoin's artifacts

Join us and get connected! 

When you buy from AmazonSmile, 0.5% of every purchase is contributed to the charitable organization of your choice. It's easy and costs you nothing. Just use smile.amazon.com when you shop (instead of amazon.com) and select North Olympic History Center as the organization you will support.

We encourage you to always shop local first!

North Olympic History Center (formerly Clallam County Historical Society) is a 501(c)(3) organization. By selecting North Olympic History Center through AmazonSmile, you will support programs that preserve and teach local history.

Thank you!