Some settled in the Yakima Valley about 1865. The American Hop Museum opened in 1993 in a 1917-vintage creamery building near the old Toppenish railroad depot. It's easy to find. The exterior literally is a work of art. Murals depicting pioneer days in the hops industry adorn the stucco walls.
Admission is free, but donations are accepted.
The museum includes a gift shop, plus a library that is open to researchers and students. Meanwhile, Brulette and his friends are on the lookout for more items to add to the collection. One could say that the Yakima Valley is Hops Central. Brulette, a fifth-generation hops grower, is getting ready to pass his business on to his daughter, Reggie Ann Brulette. The Hop Growers of America has its headquarters in nearby Yakima.