Our Museum is closed for the season.
Love local history? Here’s how you can learn more…
Bill Haroldson, President of the SWHS
Become a Member
Join the South Whidbey Historical Society and receive special discounts and access to special events and sections of the website reserved for members, It’s easy and inexpensive. Just visit our Membership Page.
Your Support Matters We are always grateful for financial donations. Simply CLICK HERE donate safely via PayPal, or mail a check to SWHS / PO Box 612 / Langley, WA 98260.
Join Our Legacy Circle
When you remember the South Whidbey Historical Society in your will or estate plan, you help keep your community Historical Society and Museum serving our community. Contact us for details at (360) 221-2101.
Become Involved
Finally, we are seeking additional volunteers to serve as Museum docents and a few more Board members. Email us at [email protected] or you can telephone the museum at (360) 221-2101. Please leave us a message and we will return your telephone call or email.
Follow Us on Facebook
Join the 4,000 people who follow us on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/SouthWhidbeyHistory.
The South Whidbey Historical Society collects, preserves and presents information, stories and artifacts of our history, weaving together the diverse experiences of our people as context for today’s decision makers and inspiration for tomorrow’s leaders.
We accomplish this mission by maintaining a Museum in Langley to house our collections and through our displays at the Island County Fairgrounds.
In addition, the Society sponsors regular “Then and Now” evening presentations that focus on South Whidbey Island history and maintains our “Virtual Museum” which contains digital images of our collections
SWHS Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Statement
South Whidbey Historical Society seeks equity, diversity and inclusion in our organization, activities and make up of community partners.
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- We acknowledge that we gather on the ancestral homelands of the Coast Salish People, especially the Snohomish.
- We pledge to collaborate in a respectful exchange of ideas and experiences regardless of age, background, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic situation, religion, and ability.
- We strive to remove barriers through regular consultation with people and groups contributing a variety of voices and perspectives, to add new levels of meaning to our programming and deepen its relevance to the broader community.
- We seek to care for and share natural and cultural collections so all people can learn, be inspired, generate knowledge, and heal.
Posts From Our Facebook Page
1940 Fishing Derby at Holmes Harbor
This humorous Holmes Harbor cartoon by Irwin Caplan is from the February 21, 1940 issue of the Seattle Star about the Ben Paris Saltwater Fishing Derby.Ben Paris was a sportsman, entrepreneur, conservationist, and owner of a landmark restaurant in Seattle....
School days, school days, good old ‘golden rule’ days…
The school year just ended, so we thought it appropriate to include a guest article from our recent newsletter that was written by Langley High School alumnus Dick Bryant, class of 1954. I was born on the Island but our family left before I entered...
Early Years Spent In A Log Cabin
The log house as it appeared in 1942 on what later became Cameron Road. The barn and pumphouse still exist, but five decades after the house was moved to a nearby location, the roof caved in after a heavy snow. One of the articles in our recent 12-page newsletter...
A Few South End Log Cabins
In the March 14, 1930 issue of the Island County Times, an editorial stated that there were 30 existing log cabins between Coupeville and Clinton, and that steps should be taken to preserve them. Fast forward 96 years and our latest SWHS newsletter, "Now and Then"...
Tangled Web of History Project
We are grateful to the Tulalip History Project, the video production unit of the Hibulb Cultural Center, who produced a Hibulb Conversations video featuring our Tangled Web of History Project. The video features project historian Kyle Walker, who shares new history...
Percy Spencer Logging Camp
Here are a few more photos of the logging camp run by Percy Spencer at Honeymoon Bay on Holmes Harbor in Freeland.His brother Arthur Spencer ran a sawmill where Nichols Brothers Boat Builders is now located.
How Many Loggers Can You See?
Zoom in on the photo. How many loggers can you spot in this photo of an elevated skid road in this 1920's logging camp? Percy Spencer ran the logging camp located at Honeymoon Bay on Holmes Harbor. Thanks to SWHS Board member Betty Cameron Discher for this photo of...
Before TVs, smart phones, computers and video games!
What did young people do with their time before TVs, smart phones, computers, video games and other devices were available? Former resident Dick Bryant shared the following account he wrote about growing up on South Whidbey. We very much appreciate such...
Bill Haroldson and the Maxwelton Mystery Ship
Listen now on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2GzScLRKZtLxroOdaA1q19... Or choose another podcast player: https://linktr.ee/unlockingthepast...
The Marina 1911 and 1913.
We love it when people share or donate photos to our Museum. Special thanks to Bob Pearce who recently donated these photos found in a building at the marina he was renovating years ago. They were taken between 1911 and 1913 and are signed on the back by Jake...
The Jensen Family
Our last post focused on some photos originally belonging to Jake Jensen, of views of the Langley Dock that the Jensen family owned. We thought you might like to know more about the Jensen family and how they helped shape early Langley. Hans Peter (H.P.)...
November 14, 1913…
Under the category of 'everything old is new again' we found this mention in the 1913 Island County Times that could be construed as a Langley precursor to Uber or Lyft... or at least a local taxi service. November 14, 1913... "Call or phone Ed Howard,...
Old Ferries
We enjoy when our FB followers share their memories of living on Whidbey Island. Here's a recent one by Dick Bryant with attached ferry photos... A COUPLE OF OLD FERRIES by Dick Bryant As a resident of South Whidbey for the first 20 years of my life, I became quite...
Island County Fair in the 1960’s
A few photos and clippings from the 1960 Island County Fair...
Maxwelton
A view of Maxwelton taken in the 1950s.
Bayview Corner
Through the 30s, 40s, and 50s, Bayview Corner was a hub of life and activity on South Whidbey. With an elementary school, a community hall, a gas station, mercantile, feed store, auto garage, and even a tavern and hotel for a short window of time, Bayview had...
Childhood memories of the Fair
CHILDHOOD MEMORIES OF THE FAIR... Sandy Peterson Nelson (left) and her sister Susie Peterson Blackstock stopped in at the Whidbey Island Fair today and found a photo of them as kids in the 1949 Kiddie Parade along with big sister Sharon Peterson Gould. They are on the...
Snohomish Tribal history on South Whidbey between 1850 and 1920
Nearly 100 people attended today's South Whidbey Historical Society presentation by local researcher Kyle Walker on a project which encompasses Snohomish Tribal history on South Whidbey between 1850 and 1920 , with a focus on Sandy Point. Special thanks to Snohomish...
A Brief History of Our South End Communities…
(Click on the town name to open the page.)
