Updated 3/2017
I soooo wanted to stay curled up in bed listening to the rain this morning. As if! I think I’m going to cope with lots of extra exclamation points! Better already!
Today is Museum Monday, and I’m going to tell you about a fantastic, little known museum, where your kids are actually encouraged to touch most everything! The hours are a little funny, so read the whole post before you rush out. Need something to do right this instant? I’ll have that in another post in just a bit.
The Karshner Museum is in downtown Puyallup, and it’s one of very few school district operated museums in the country. It’s housed in a former school building, and is used primarily for school groups and tours, but it’s open to the public, too!
The museum was founded by Dr. and Mrs. Warner Karshner as a memorial to their late son, and most of the amazing items in it were collected as they traveled around the world in the 20s and 30s. It’s a one story museum, and the rooms are crammed with treasures. Kids can smell an elephant foot, handle replica fossils, paddle a dug out canoe, peek into a tipi, and more! Best of all, kids can touch most all of it!
The museum is open on weekdays from 1-4 PM, but you can call about coming another time, and curator, Beth, will be glad to have you if there isn’t another group scheduled. She would really like you to call anytime you’re going to come on a weekday, so she can make sure not to run out for an errand! Don’t be shy: She’s the world’s nicest curator. The number is 253-841-8748. You can tell her I said to call. We had a super nice chat this morning, and she’s excited to see you.
Admission is free, although it’s nice to leave a donation.
You can also go the musuem on Family Days, which are special open days designed around a theme. The next Family Day is March 11th, from 1-4PM. There will be Native American storytelling, crafts and dancing from local tribes.
If you’re in Puyallup, the museum is right in front of Stewart Elementary. Look for the little brown museum sign across from Grayland Park and hang a right. If you’re coming from elsewhere, maybe you’d like an actual map.
If you’re further north, you might consider a visit to the excellent White River Valley Museum in Auburn (don’t go today-it’s open Wednesday-Sunday; Wednesdays are Free). I talked about it during my webcast on The Coupon Project. If you’re to the south, the new Harbor History Museum is an excellent choice. Adults are 7.00, senior/military are 6.00, youth 6-17 are 5.00 and children 5 and under are free, as are members.
Check back in a bit for more ways to keep everyone dry and happy today!