The Bellingham Herald

CENTENNIAL
Tools for exploring more local history

Interested in learning about local history? There are plenty of places to turn to for help. Here are some starters:

Bellingham Public Library, 210 Central Ave. Phone: 676-6860. Web: www.bellinghampubliclibrary.org/. The library has books, newspapers, pamphlets and magazines about Whatcom County. Talk to a librarian at the reference desk for guidance..

Blaine Heritage Society, P.O. Box 2153, Blaine, WA 98231. Phone: 332-1338. Members' long-term goal is to establish a museum in Blaine.

Center for Pacific Northwest Studies, in the Goltz-Murray Archives building at Western Washington University. Phone: 650-7747. Web: www.acadweb.wwu.edu/cpnws/. The center's collections include private papers and organizational and institutional records that document economic, social, cultural and political trends in the Pacific Northwest.

Ferndale Heritage Society, P.O. Box 3127, Ferndale, WA 98248. Phone: 384-3693 or 384-4693. The society oversees Pioneer Park, holds monthly meetings with history speakers, and hosts special events.

HistoryLink.org. Web: www.historylink.org/. Online information on Washington state history. Searchable by topic.

Lynden Pioneer Museum, 217 Front St., Lynden. Phone: 354-3675. Web: www.lyndenpioneermuseum.com/. Lynden's museum features exhibits on county farm history, Dutch heritage and early transportation, as well as events, speakers and classes.

Semiahmoo Park Museum, on Semiahmoo Spit. Open to the public Memorial Day to Labor Day, sometimes longer. Content focuses on the Alaska Packers Association cannery once at Semiahmoo. During the summer, the historic passenger ferry Plover runs from Blaine to Semiahmoo. Phone: county parks, 733-2900, or Blaine Visitor Center, 332-4544.

USGenWeb Project. Web: www.rootsweb.com/~wawhatco/. Whatcom County's contribution to a national genealogical effort. Provides ever-growing lists of histories, maps, military records and much more.

Whatcom County Historical Society, P.O. Box 2116, Bellingham, WA 98227. Web: www.whatcomhistory.net. The society's Web site has old city directories, biographies, important local documents, and more. The society holds regular meetings that feature history speakers.

Whatcom County History Resource Guide. Web: www.nas.com/~moogie/home.html. Provides links to history resources, historical societies, ancestor research and recommended reading.

Whatcom Genealogy Society, P.O. Box 1493, Bellingham, WA 98227-1493. Web: members.aol.com/whatcom59/wgs.html. Meetings start at 7 p.m. the second Monday of month, generally September through June, at Bellingham Public Library.

Whatcom Museum of History & Art, 121 Prospect St. Phone: 676-6981. Web: www.whatcommuseum.org. The museum's extensive photo archive focuses on regional photographers and subject matter. Whatcom Memories, housed at the museum, was a five-year effort to copy old photographs and record family histories throughout Whatcom County.

-The Bellingham Herald

Additional information from

Jane Lowrey, Bellingham Public Library

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