Our organization began in the 1940's when a group of islanders formed a historical society with purpose of highlighting and protecting the rich history of Orcas Island. Although the Society did not own an actual museum facility at that time, the members resourcefully utilized the front porch of a house to display and store the collection. Over the next several years, community members donated original homestead cabins which were converted into the Museum's main facility. Today the Orcas Island Historical Museum is a nonprofit organization dedicated to sharing, collecting and preserving the record and object history of the Pacific Northwest as it relates to Orcas Island. We offer both temporary and ongoing exhibits, special events, workshops and presentations, as well as guided and unguided tours.
OIHM operations are largely dependent upon the assistance of volunteers.
We are also receive a significant amount of support from the county. The budget is also augmented by membership and admission fees, donations, museum store sales and money generated through fundraising events. The OIHM facility consists of six one-room log cabins constructed by homesteaders in the 1880s and 1890s. For conversion into a museum building, the cabins were disassembled at their various sites on Orcas Island and then transported to Eastsound Village. Each log was numbered to insure the reconstruction of the structures would be as accurate as possible.