| Museum and Arts Center features both natural and cultural exhibits beginning with the first known contact of humans with a mastodon 12,000 years ago. Exhibits include mammoth and mastodon specimens, artifacts, and a video on the Manis Mastodon excavation. Changing exhibits include local artists, military exhibits, S'Klallam tribal exhibit, and pioneer history displays. On February 12, 1976, after having acquired RCW#27.48.010 covering the powers of Counties and Municipalities to store, preserve and exhibit historical materials, an exhibit of history items was displayed at the Sequim City Hall. The April 1, 1977 purchase of the former U.S. Post Office building, 175 W. Cedar St, Sequim, provided a permanent location. From these beginnings, the Sequim-Dungeness Museum incorporated as a non-profit organization on August 22, 1977. The Museum officially opened on May 10, 1979.In March 1992, the Sequim-Dungeness Museum consolidated with the Peninsula Cultural Arts Center (founded in 1984) forming the Museum & Arts Center in the Sequim-Dungeness Valley -- its mission to portray the history of the area, and to carry out arts related programs. As the Museum continued to grow and expand, a building program was begun. On June 18, 1998, ground was broken for Phase I of the future home of MAC at 544 N. Sequim Avenue. In April 1999, the move of Administration to the new site was completed. This included Offices, Artifacts, Library, Photo Lab, Photo Archives, Research and Publications. An expanded exhibit facility will continue on Cedar Street along with the Museum Store. The formal dedication and Open House for the Administration Building was held on July 24th and 25th, 1999. The Dungeness Schoolhouse became a division of the Museum & Arts Center in January, 1995. Located at 2781 Towne Road, the Dungeness School opened February 27, 1893, with one teacher and 73 pupils ranging in age from 5 to 20 years. In 1923 high school classes were discontinued. The school closed in 1955 when the Dungeness and Sequim School Districts were consolidated. Today the Dungeness Schoolhouse preserves the past while continuing to serve the community. It offers programs and classes, and is available to rent for weddings, family reunions, business seminars, and the like. |
|
