Current & Upcoming Events
PAST EVENTS
An Island Revered Special Exhibit
In an effort to open such a treasure trove wider than ever before, Museum volunteers and staff members have explored the less frequented places in the collection in order to bring to light uncommon historical items of special interest and significance.
Juneteenth Vashon
Juneteenth Celebration on Vashon:
Reconciliation through Remembrance
The fifth annual Vashon Juneteenth will take place June 19 2025, 4-6pm, at Vashon Center for the Arts. The event is free & family friendly, with snacks & childcare available. Look forward to great local talent and engaging inquiries.
Organized by the Juneteenth Committee & Sponsored by
Vashon Heritage Museum, Vashon Island Baking, Mukai Farm & Garden, Thriftway, Seattle Indian Health Board, and Vashon-Maury SURJ
Mammoth Moments June 2025
This monthly family friendly day at the museum will offer extended open hours (10am to 4pm), crafts, a story time and fun for all ages. Third Saturday of the month.
2025 Ice Cream Social
Join us for this FREE event to kick off Vashon Island’s Strawberry Festival!
2025 Virginia V
Please join us as we circumnavigate the island aboard the Virginia V. Tickets are $175 each. Adults only.
Ekphrastic Poetry Reading with Vashon Poets
The Vashon Poets will be meeting for an Ekphrastic poetry reading. This is the second reading of poetry reacting to art and artifacts at the museum. A wonderful display of Vashon’s creativity and talent!
Mammoth Moments Family Day
The Museum will be debuting the Betty Olson Education collection, which features historic object meant for handling. This includes a butter churn, washboards, manual coffee grinder and much more! We’ll also have a Spring Bird Craft and playdough station on our covered patio.
On The Waterfront
Presentation followed by live Oral History interview with Frank Zellerhoff.
Hidden Treasures Exhibit
In an effort to open such a treasure trove wider than ever before, Museum volunteers and staff members have explored the less frequented places in the collection in order to bring to light uncommon historical items of special interest and significance.
Hidden Treasures Opening
The Museum will host extended hours, open till 7pm, to celebrate the opening of this exhibit.
Film Screening-The Maury Island Incident
Back by popular demand! Join the Vashon Heritage Musem at the Vashon Theatre for screening of “The Maury Island Incident” followed by a talk by film makers Scott Schaefer and Steve Edmiston.
Mammoth Moments - January
This monthly family friendly day at the museum will offer extended open hours (10am to 4pm), crafts, a story time and fun for all ages. Third Saturday of the month.
Mammoth Moments - December
This monthly family friendly day at the museum will offer extended open hours (10am to 4pm), crafts, a story time and fun for all ages. Third Saturday of the month.
Doctrine of Discovery
Join ASU Law Professor Robert Miller (Eastern Shawnee Tribe) and Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, Brandon Reynon (Puyallup Tribe) as they discuss the history and continued impacts of the Doctrine of Discovery. The Doctrine deprived indigenous peoples of their land claiming that, because it was not under the flag of a sovereign Christian nation, it could be taken by whoever “discovered” it.
Mammoth Moments
This monthly family friendly day at the museum will offer extended open hours (10am to 4pm), crafts, a story time and fun for all ages. Third Saturday of the month.
Spooky History Tour
Join tour guide Chris Austin (The Mostly True Vashon Tours) on a flashlight tour of Vashon Town. Enjoy fun stories from Vashon’s history, meet apparitions of islanders past and enjoy spooky characters from Vashon stories
TUESDAY TALKS
Join this Zoom panel discussion inspired by our Special Exhibit "We The People". Panelists include Dr. Allison Jansen, Dr. Bruce Haulman, and Gib Dammann.
2024 Virginia V
Please join us as we circumnavigate the island aboard the Virginia V. on Sunday, August 18th at 12:30-4:30! Tickets are sold out! $175 each. Adults only. Add your name to the waiting list by e-mailing cameroncooper@vashonheritage.org.
Want to sail with your children? Separate kids cruise around Blake Island at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, August 19th $50/per person. Kids' Cruise tickets for adults who bring a child aged 3-17 still available!
Virginia V Kids’ Cruise
Bring your child(ren) along for a wonderful kid’s cruise on the historic Virginia V. Boarding at 10:45am for a one-hour cruise, departing from the Northend Ferry Dock.
Ice Cream Social
Please join us for live music, yard games and community in our annual FESTIVAL FRIDAY Ice Cream Social on Friday, July 19th from 6-8 p.m. We’ll have a special unveiling of the new outdoor hydro exhibit, “4th of July Hydros”.
We The People Exhibit
The Gib Dammann Political Memorabilia Collection
Open during regular museum hours: 1pm-4pm, Wed-Sun. This Special Exhibit showcases a long commitment to honor those who ran for office and their marketing paraphernalia used. The Vashon Heritage Museum is honored to showcase this collection.
Day of Exile
Honoring the memory of the 111 Japanese residents of Vashon Island who were unjustly exiled by their own government on May 16, 1942.
From the Margins
Dr. Asaka will discuss how migrant laborers worked alongside each other and forged unexpected alliances within the marine and coastal spaces of the Puget Sound.
2024 Gala – 50’s
Celebrate our heritage. Entertainment, dinner and dancing Fundraising Gala.
Heritage at the Hardware
February & March 2024 · Wednesday-Sunday · 11am - 8pm
The Vashon Heritage Museum and The Hardware Store Restaurant are partnering to create a delightful collection of Vashon's history with photos and sculpture which will be displayed in the restaurant’s gallery space during the months of February and March, 2004.
Speaker Series: History of Vashon’s First People and the Puyallup Tribe
Islanders have an opportunity to hear about their history and culture from Charlotte Basch, Historic Education Coordinator for the Puyallup Tribe.
Landmark Status Application Review
This project was supported in part by a grant from 4Culture.
It’s Vashon Isle
Friday, October 13th - Sunday, October 15th 2023
with Jeff Hoyt as P. Monroe Smock
Featuring (in every show):
Kat Eggleston
Alchemy
Bruce Haulman
With Special Performances by:
~FRIDAY 10/13 @ 7:30pm~
Tim Couldn’t Make It
Mark Graham & Susan Lewis
~SATURDAY 10/14 @ 7:30pm~
Chris Ballew
Rusty Willoughby & Jennifer Potter with Dan Tyack
Christopher Anderson & Kim Thal
~SUNDAY AFTERNOON 10/15 @ 2pm~
Vashon Island Chorale
The Famous Filson Sisters
~SUNDAY NIGHT 10/15 @ 7:30pm~
Bill Wood & Jon Whalen
Jeanne Dougherty & Lyn McManus
Kevin Joyce
Steffon Moody
It Could Be Worse: Remembering the Puget Sound Ferry Strikes
Join us to hear Ann Irish as she talks about the ferry system and how “It Could Be Worse”. From the 1930s to the 1980s, our ferry system faced employee strikes and even a lockout by management; in all, eleven work stoppages. Some strikes lasted just a few days, but the longest went on for more than a month. What were the issues? Which ferry runs were impacted? How did islanders feel about the work stoppages? In 1948, relations between workers and management became so bad that Vashon Islanders ran their ferries themselves for three years. But strikes continued, the final one for three days in 1981.