Community Corner
Kids Out Of School, Museum Is Cool
The winter break is the perfect time to take the entire family to the Harbor History Museum. Go check out the Stars & Stripes exhibit before it leaves town.
Winter break is in full swing, and now is the perfect time to check out the Stars & Stripes exhibit at the . Featured since the museum opened in September, this unique exhibit offers a magnificent collection of more than 250 original American flags and flag related objects dating back to the Civil War era. Artifacts from this exhibit will become a Smithsonian Institute traveling exhibit that will tour the country after it leaves Gig Harbor. So we're fortunate to have had it first! The last day to view the Stars & Stripes exhibit is Jan. 16.
Here are some of the reasons to take your kids of all ages to the museum this week:
- The museum is a kid-friendly place. Museum executive director Jennifer Kilmer said she thinks many adults haven't visited the museum yet because they feel they need to leave the kids at home.
"Not true," Kilmer said. "I think our new 'family-friendly' museum is perhaps the best kept secret around town. We had a group of 4 and 5-year-olds here the other day to tour the Stars & Stripes exhibit, and they had a fabulous time."
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- The museum offers several hands-on activities like the magnet wall where the kids can move a fun assortment of marine objects around a pier in the harbor. There is also a small sailboat that children have a blast playing in, pretending they are out in the harbor raising and lowering the sail.
- Kids also have a good time playing in the historic Midway Schoolhouse, taking turns "teaching" each other. The school was originally built in 1893 and includes a teacher's desk, student desks, chalk board and a stove.
- Older kids are amazed to see recovered pieces of the first Tacoma Narrows Bridge, better known as Galloping Gertie, and the historic videos that captured the collapse of the bridge. The 65-foot commercial fishing vessel, Shenandoah, also gets their attention and offers a glimpse into Gig Harbor's fishing history.
The best reason to visit the museum is that it offers families a fun and an affordable outing. Admission is only $6 per adult, $4 for ages 7 through 17, free for kids under 6, or better yet, it is free with a membership. The museum is also local, so it won't take long to get there. The Harbor History Museum is a great place to keep your children occupied without breaking the bank, and you'll be supporting your local community to boot!
