Annual Report 2007
Jefferson County Historical Society

JCHS Mission: To actively discover, collect, preserve, and promote the heritage
of Jefferson County in the State of Washington.

Director's Welcome
Year In Review
Research Center
Rothschild House
Olympic Gateway Visitors Center
Collections AND EXHIBITS
Museum Shop
Education Committee 
Walking Tours
Historic Properties Survey
Victorian Festival
 

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

The Annual Report is an invaluable tool in documenting where JCHS has been and, even more importantly, where we wish to be.

The Jefferson County Historical Society's commitment to sharing our county’s heritage is apparent in its achievements throughout 2007.  The brilliant beginning of the year, back in the restored City Hall, fueled our enterprises throughout the year. Museum exhibits returned to the original courtroom and fire hall spaces. The imaginative and bold exhibit on fraternal organizations opened the museum's new temporary exhibit gallery.  Gallery Walk exhibits in the City Council Chambers pulled in a new circle of visitors.

The Research Center excited more interest in 2007 than ever before. Over 7,000 scanned photos of museum artifacts and information about most archives were entered into a searchable data base. Internal technical enhancements increased efficiencies and broadened our internet posture. The historic properties survey surged forward, documenting historic structures in Jefferson County. The database was enhanced with additional information about properties taken from historic records and by the digitization of historic maps, allowing properties to be tracked through changes in city street names and structure configurations over the years. Historic photos from the collection enhanced the understanding of changes over the years. By the summer of 2008, the State of Washington anticipates putting the entire Historic Properties Survey on the internet.

JCHS assumed managerial responsibility for the Gateway Visitor Center during 2007. This responsibility is demanding with more than 26,300 visitors passing through the center during the year. In addition to promoting Jefferson County, staff at the Center provided emergency assistance to 30 visitors.

The annual Victorian Festival inspired tremendous volunteer support and provided visitors with several opportunities to share in Port Townsend's Victorian era heritage.  The society inaugurated a summer camp for children last year that was successful and promises to grow in the future.  Walking tours also continue to offer visitors a way to learn about and experience both downtown and uptown Port Townsend.

The year's end saw the beginning of our challenge to find a permanent home to our stored museum collection.  Work has commenced with county, state and federal officials to help us build a facility at the site of our Research Center.  We are currently storing our artifacts at Fort Worden, but must relocate them within two years. 

The end of the year matched our very exciting beginning. Our first annual First Night celebration was a resounding success, attracting a noisy, happy celebration to bring in the new year.  Fireworks provided a wonderful closing to a most successful year, and a promising beginning to 2008.

Opportunities abound to assist in this county-wide preservation effort in a community second to none.  Your support in keeping our thread to the past connected to the future is unmatched.  Without you, our mission to actively discover, collect, preserve, and promote the heritage of Jefferson County in the State of Washington could not be accomplished.  Thank you for your continued interest and commitment.

Linda Maguire,
2007 President

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Jefferson County Historical Society
540 Water Street
Port Townsend, WA  98368
360-385-1003

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