History will come alive as the Lynden Pioneer Museum celebrates its annual open house, opening many of its 1900s-era Main Street exhibits so visitors can walk around the stores and offices, rather than simply peer through glass at the life-size historical dioramas.
Adding to the experience will be volunteers in period dress who'll play the part of shopkeepers and townsfolk, said Troy Luginbill, director and curator of the museum.
"They can go inside and look around, get up close," Luginbill said. "You can go in and actually talk to the shop owners," he said.
Among the shops on Main Street are a general store; volunteer fire department; newspaper office with printing press; sporting goods retailer with vintage rifles and fishing tackle; barbershop; clock shop; milliner; hotel and a drug store. There's an old diner and a pioneer homestead, all featuring furniture and other items typical to the era.
Downstairs is a collection of more than 60 vintage buggies, automobiles and tractors - including an antique threshing machine and a 1929 REO Speedwagon fire engine. There's also the current "Flying Spokes" exhibit of vintage bicycles.
"There's lots of bikes to see - from 1911 to the 1990s," Luginbill said.
Admission is free for the event from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13, at 217 Front St. near Third Street in downtown Lynden.
Luginbill said the event - traditionally held on a Friday night - was moved this year in hope of drawing more people because high school football games had competed for attendance, he said.
Many area merchants will be open late that night, lending a festive atmosphere to the open house, Luginbill said.
"There will be lots to do at the intersection," Luginbill said.
Many activities are planned inside, too. There will be demonstrations of old-fashioned parlor games, butter churning, weaving and tatting - a complex knot-tying fabric art that Luginbill called "poor man's lace." A pianist will perform on the museum's Henry F. Miller grand piano.
In addition to the volunteers in pioneer dress, Luginbill said there will be a group of World War II re-enactors near the museum's display of wartime memorabilia. Parked outside will be a nearly restored 1943-vintage MC-52 weapons carrier with markings from the U.S. Third Marine Division that served in the Pacific and saw action in such key battles as Bougainville and Iwo Jima.
Also on display will be the museum's recently acquired 5-ton U.S. Army cargo truck, a 1985 model that's still in use by the military.
Regular admission to the Lynden Pioneer Museum is $7 for adults; $4 for seniors and students; free for children 6 and younger. Normal hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
For more information, call 360-354-3675 or go online to lyndenpioneermuseum.org.
