50th Anniversary Celebration of the KCHM’s Original Grand Opening

Our organization has been in existence since September 1961 when we were founded as the Kittitas County Historical Society, Inc., and in May 1962, we were given space to display items in the basement of the Morris Sorensen Memorial Hospital Building (now home to the Kittitas County Public Health Department and other services). While we met for regular meetings in the Kittitas County Board of Commissioner’s Auditorium, we were informed in 1973 that the meeting space and our display space would no longer be available. Later that year, and throughout 1974, we brokered a deal with the Charles and Gladys Davis family to purchase the historic Cadwell Building. We sought support to help with a down payment from the Kittitas County Board of Commissioners in exchange for housing the Rollinger Brothers Rock and Mineral Collection. In late 1974, the deal was secured, ownership transferred, and work began on the building. And on June 1, 1975 at 2pm, doors opened to the public to celebrate the grand opening of the Kittitas County Historical Museum.

Over the last 50 years, we have continued to own and operate the Cadwell Building. Over the last year, we have been very fortunate to make many improvements to the historic building, much like those who were involved at the very beginning. And we can only thank the support of our community, our members and donors, and the thousands of visitors that we are able to continue to collect, preserve, and share the history, heritage, and culture of Kittitas County.

We look forward to the next 50+ years of being at home in the Cadwell Building, and hope that you can join us in celebrating this momentous occasion.

The event is free and everyone is invited. Refreshments will be provided.

For more information, please contact the Kittitas County Historical Museum by email at [email protected] or by phone at 509-925-3778. The Kittitas County Historical Museum is located at 114 E 3rd Ave in historic downtown Ellensburg.