Our New Building: State Capital Heritage Grant

In June of 2020 the Franklin County Historical Society and Museum applied for the Heritage Capital Projects Fund (HCPF) Grant through the Washington State Historical Society (WSHS) for added financial support to further our Capital Expansion Project, Capital Campaign.

Our New Building: State Capital Heritage Grant

In June of 2020, the Franklin County Historical Society and Museum applied for the Heritage Capital Projects Fund (HCPF) Grant through the Washington State Historical Society (WSHS) for added financial support to further our Capital Expansion Project, Capital Campaign. It will be through generous donations and the HCPF grant (currently pending legislation) that a second annex structure will be constructed and display exhibitions for years to come.

Project Summary

The new annex building is to be located on property adjacent to the Franklin County Historical Society Museum, which is a restored 1911 Carnegie Library and National Historic Site. The society has pressing needs for additional space for exhibits, educational programs, and storage of material culture and archives. Among other recent accessions, the society acquired the archives of the Washington State Railroads Historical Society, and the Museum’s textile and other collections presently occupy considerable space off-site in the basement of the city’s Community Center. The society also seeks to expand its nascent Mid-Columbia Gallery of Agrarian Art.

Scope of Project:

The Franklin County Museum Education & Storage Annex project seeks to construct a 4560 square-foot building (50´ x 70´ main building plus 15´ x 70´ attached storage) on property adjacent to the present Museum in Pasco, Washington. We seek to meet pressing program needs and to properly maintain archival and material culture collections. The property consists of open land that is owned by the society.

Adding community value:

The Franklin County Historical Society has just commenced its 52nd year of service to a growing membership and community within the region and beyond. The community value of the project is strongly evident in the endorsement of the Pasco City Planning Commission, Chamber of Commerce, Educational Service District 123, Franklin County Commissioners, and other area organizations. Moreover, success of the society’s recent “Telling Your Story” Capital Campaign attests to widespread public interest in the project. Additional grant funding will ensure that the Museum’s valuable collections presently stored off-site will be accessible for educational use and exhibits, and be properly safeguarded for future generations.

For more information on the Heritage Capital Projects is online at WashingtonHistory.org.