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Edmonds Historical Museum

Explore the Past. Empower the Future.

Museum & Society

Our Mission & Vision

The Edmonds Historical Society and Museum engages, educates, and inspires our diverse community through stories from our past that generate insights about our future.

We are dedicated to preserving and sharing our history in a way that benefits our communities today. The Edmonds Historical Society achieves this through research, collection, and preservation of historical documents, artifacts, memories, and events, as well as by utilizing interpretive displays and engaging in public education programming.

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Our Values

  • Stewardship – We will responsibly manage the financial, physical, and digital resources entrusted to us as we undertake our mission and strive to achieve our vision.
  • Diversity, Inclusion, and Respect – We value everyone’s voices and stories, and will create an environment that is accessible and where all will be heard.
  • Communication and Collaboration – We are a community organization committed to open communication and collaboration.
  • Professionalism and Excellence – We strive to exhibit the best practices in small museum operations and develop innovations that benefit our peers, including maintaining a financial foundation that is sustainable.
  • Storytelling – Stories are the heartbeat that gives life to the facts of history and connects them to people in a meaningful and compelling way.
  • Service – The Society exists to bring value to the communities we serve.

Land Acknowledgement

We acknowledge that we are on the traditional homelands of the Coast Salish Tribes. The Coast Salish represent a large collection of many tribes with distinct cultures and languages who have served as stewards of the land and sea for more than 14,000 years. We pay our respects to the Coast Salish people, past and present.

Our History

The Edmonds-South Snohomish County Historical Society was formally organized on February 22, 1973, when Secretary of State, A. Ludlow Kramer, affixed the State of Washington seal on the society’s Articles of Incorporation.

The creation of the organization was led by a small group of influential citizens and pioneer family members, spearheaded by past Chamber of Commerce president, Douglas Egan. The purpose was to preserve the history and heritage of Edmonds and the south Snohomish County area for future generations. 

Following incorporation, and with help from Edmonds Mayor Harve Harrison, the society obtained permission to use the old Carnegie Library building for the formation of a museum. On August 3, 1973, a grand opening celebration was held for the Edmonds Historical Museum. 

Since 1973, over 26,000 items related to Edmonds and south Snohomish County’s heritage have been preserved. The Edmonds Historical Museum is an actively collecting repository dedicated to research, collection and preservation of historical documents, artifacts, memories and events, and utilizing interpretative displays and engaging in creative public educational programming. 

The Edmonds Carnegie Library Building

In 1910, through the efforts of the women’s Library Club and city Librarian, Rev. John Lockwood, Edmonds received a $5,000 grant from the Carnegie Foundation for the construction of a library. Built by architect and contractor H.B. Ward of Seattle, the Edmonds Carnegie Library opened on February 17, 1911 – the 19th Carnegie Library in Washington State. The upper floor housed the library, and the lower floor housed the city offices, council chambers and jail. 

Edmonds Carnegie Library, ca. 1911

In 1962, to accommodate rapid population growth, City Hall and the library were moved into the new Civic Center complex; Edmonds Parks and Recreation remained in the building for another decade. In 1973, the Edmonds City Council unanimously agreed to let the newly formed Edmonds-South Snohomish County Historical Society take over the building for the establishment of the Edmonds Historical Museum. 

On April 24, 1973 Edmonds’ Carnegie Library was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The building continues to be an impressive symbol of Edmonds’ social and cultural history.