“The Museum comes alive” again, connecting buildings, decades and people

WENATCHEE — It’s been nearly 50 years since the Wenatchee Museum moved into the old Post Office building on Mission Street, and in that time, very few things have changed about it other than updating exhibits.

One major update was the addition of a cast aluminum sculpture on the front steps 30 years ago called “Coyote Reading a Candy Wrapper,” by Richard Beyer. It was a welcome add-on to the historic Museum, since it had a backstory: In Beyer’s tale of the piece, Coyote has escaped the hangman’s noose and is wandering an abandoned town, finding wisdom in the scraps he picks up to read. In Wenatchee, Coyote found a Mr. Goodbar wrapper.

But one sculpture that’s been there since the average Wenatchee citizen was 6 years old (yes, our median age is only 36) does not make for the most vibrant community centerpiece. After all, since 1939, the Museum and Cultural Center has been taking visitors on a guided tour of life in Central Washington dating all the way back to the Ice Age. It is intended to engage and educate people about the region’s history, its art and science and culture and diversity.

Now the Museum has a vision, and it’s almost arrived. The “Branch Out” campaign has already raised 60% of the capital they need to realize the vision in full. Leaders at the Museum see it as a place that can serve as a cultural anchor and make Wenatchee a destination for people in pursuit of knowledge and history.

The plan is to connect the two buildings that make up the Museum by building an expansive lobby filled with light that adds 14,000 square feet of new space inside and outside. From there, they plan to create a new main entrance in what is now the back of the museum, facing Wenatchee Avenue behind Centennial Park. This would centralize access (the now-rear entrance would still remain as well) to exhibits and programs and provide more access to parking. As of now, parking other than along the main roads is very limited.

With the additional square footage and the new entrance in place, the Museum would extend outdoors, with a plaza and a space to gather in the new front of the building, and the plaza would share space with Centennial Park all the way to the Avenue — this could mean evening concerts at the Museum in the summer, themed outdoor exhibits, or a host of other things the Museum would develop in conjunction with the city.

Most of all, they plan to update the way the Museum engages with visitors. The history of this region is spectacular all the way back to the Missoula Floods in the Pleistocene era that formed the dramatic Columbia River valley that we live astride now.

The leaders of this project are Marriah Thornock, Executive Director, and Christine Morgan, the Capital Campaign Manager. Speaking with them just shows how excited they are for the completion of this legendary upgrade to the Museum and Cultural Center.

“Our region is growing,” says Morgan. “It is critical that the Museum is revitalized so it can continue to link the richness of our region in a way that honors the legacy of the past and connects it to our future. Like the extensive trail systems of our region, the museum can be a source of pride for our community and a destination for visitors who seek experiences and connections with the place we call home.”

Thornock agrees. “Our community deserves a thriving museum that offers something for everyone, from our youngest visitors to our lifelong patrons,” she says. “This expansion and renovation project will allow us to create a more dynamic and interactive space that truly reflects the multi-faceted history and culture of North Central Washington. We envision a welcoming and inclusive gathering place where our entire community can come together to explore, learn, and connect with one another and with the vibrant heritage of our region. From hands-on exhibits that spark curiosity in young minds to thought-provoking programs that engage lifelong learners, we want to offer something meaningful for everyone.”

This campaign to complete the renovation of the Museum and Cultural Center is already underway. And though she’s calling it a “capital campaign,” Christine Morgan isn’t begging for your money at this point. But she — and the Museum — want you to get involved as well. They’re seeking the kind of input from a community that this kind of community project deserves.

To learn how you can get involved, or even just for more information, reach out to Christine Morgan by email at cmorgan@wvmcc.org.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media