Museum of the Jefferson County Historical Society in Port Townsend Washington

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

Maritime exhibit in Fire Hall Gallery Maritime history exhibit in Fire Hall Gallery

The Jefferson County Historical Museum is located in the 1892 Port Townsend City Hall building. Exhibits in the former municipal court room, fire hall and jail spaces illustrate the lively history of communities born in waterfront forests over 150 years ago.

The Fire Hall Gallery features exhibits on Jefferson County's maritime history and the Port Townsend Fire Department, as well as a Victorian hearse and Gurney Cab, a Special Collections Corner and a Children's Cubby.

In the Court Room Gallery, exhibits on the early explorers, Native Americans, Chinese settlers and Victorian era pursuits intrigue visitors. The Port Townsend: Then and Now exhibit is an interactive journey through local historic scenes with contemporary matches. The What's New exhibit features artifacts new to the museum's collection.

The museum's original jail features stories about the people and crimes that were punished in this frightening space.

Exhibitions in the Museum

Theater Gallery and ORIENTATION film
"We Came with Dreams"

With These Tools: Horace Tucker's Tools

First Europeans

Jefferson County's Maritime Heritage

Port Townsend Fire Department

The First People: Area Natives

James Swan and the Native Americans

Chinese Settlers in Early Port Townsend

Collectors' Corner
The McIllroy Button Collection

Sin at Sea Level
Bars & Bordellos, Shanghaiing, Smuggling, Murder, Mutiny
and other Mayhem in Early Port Townsend