Rainier Valley Historical Society Hosts Open House During BeatWalk

November 6th, 2008 | Features, Photo

Glad you stopped by. You may want to subscribe in your RSS reader or get new posts delivered by email. Or learn more about Columbia City Blog. Want more frequent updates follow us on Twitter. Thanks for visiting!

The Rainier Valley Historical Society hosts a rare Open House this Friday evening, November 7th between 6:00–9:00 p.m., during Columbia City's monthly BeatWalk event. Check out the RVHS's new window display honoring politicians with Rainier Valley roots.

From Director Mikala Woodward's article, "The Rainier Valley's diverse political roots run deep":

The 37th District has produced many firsts—the first African American in the State House (Charles Stokes), State Senate (George Fleming), and Seattle City Council (Sam Smith). Albert Rosellini was the first Italian American governor west of the Mississippi, breaking through the Catholic barrier four years before John F. Kennedy was elected President. Gary Locke was the first Asian governor on the mainland, and the only Chinese American governor the United States has seen so far.

Let's not forget Norm Rice, Ruby Chow or John L. O'Brien, the first State Rep with 52 years of service in the U.S.

Don't miss the opportunity! I'd never visited the RVHS because it typically is open for visitors only every Wednesday—Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 1 p.m., or by appointment.

[Update: Apparently, when you create a display of pioneering Rainier Valley politicians, Rainier Valley dignitaries drop by to see it! Plus remarkable video of a self-waving flag. You read that right. Mikala tells all in Feeling Patriotic Yet?]

The Rainier Valley Historical Society collects, preserves, exhibits, and interprets the history and heritage of Rainier Valley and its people, and promotes public involvement in and appreciation of its history and culture.

The Historical Society maintains an extensive archival collection of over 1,500 photographs of historic Rainier Valley, as well as newspaper clippings, maps, letters, artifacts, and documents depicting the Valley's development since 1853. The Historical Society is a wonderful resource for educators, historians, students, and anyone interested in the heritage of the Rainier Valley.

Rainier Valley Historical Society | 3710 S Ferdinand St 98118, (206) 722-2838, rvhsoffice

[geomashupmap]

(Photos by Columbia City Blog, available under an Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike Creative Commons license)