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Historical society in Seattle, Washington. Our mission is to collect, preserve, exhibit, and interpret the history and heritage of the Rainier Valley. WELCOME TO RAINIER VALLEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY Learn More Our Mission To collect, preserve, exhibit, and interpret the history and heritage of Rainier Valley and its community and to educate and promote public involvement in, and appreciation of, its history and culture. Upcoming Events See all events Seward Park Walking Tour Sat, Apr 05 Seward Park Audubon Center Buy Tickets History Happy Hour: Bootleggers of South Seattle Wed, Apr 16 Seattle RSVP Stomp and Shout: The Untold Story of Northwest Rock & Roll Sat, May 31 Black & Tan Hall RSVP Featured Articles See more articles Our Archives Learn more about our archives Articles & Publications Photographs Newsletters Oral Histories Become a Member Help us preserve and celebrate the history of the Rainier Valley. Be a part of our advocacy for local preservation. Support RVHS

Join RVHS for a variety of tours, lectures, and special events that showcase Rainier Valley's cultural heritage. Upcoming Events Seward Park Walking Tour Sat, Apr 05 Seward Park Audubon Center More info Buy Tickets History Happy Hour: Bootleggers of South Seattle Wed, Apr 16 Seattle More info RSVP Stomp and Shout: The Untold Story of Northwest Rock & Roll Sat, May 31 Black & Tan Hall More info RSVP RVHS Calendar Explore our office hours and full calendar of events. Become a Member Get exclusive early access to events, enjoy discounted rates, and support the preservation of Rainier Valley! join rvhs

Step into the past with our captivating photo essays. Photo Essays The Rainier Valley Historical Society has curated captivating photo essays that illustrate the rich heritage and evolution of our culturally diverse neighborhood. Katie Mcclure Cleo's Apparel Cleo’s Apparel (4824 Rainier Ave S), a beloved women’s clothing store in Columbia City for 36 years. Katie Mcclure Columbia Branch History - Seattle Public Libraries Step back in time with us as we dive into the history of the Columbia Branch Library. In June 1909, the Seattle Public Library... Eleanor Boba The Atlantic Street Center: Celebrating 100 Years of Service The Atlantic Street Center, a youth-focused social service agency, is celebrating a hundred years of serving the citizens of the Rainier Val Eleanor Boba Play Ball! A Brief History of Baseball in the Rainier Valley This photo essay was created by Eleanor Boba Early Beginnings In the beginning, baseball was everywhere. Nowadays when we think about...

Help us preserve and celebrate the history of the Rainier Valley. Be a part of our advocacy for local preservation. Become a Member With your support, we provide programs that explore diverse topics including cultural traditions, social activism, architectural history, and environmental stewardship. Your contributions also help us maintain our extensive digital and physical archives, many of which are housed at our Columbia City Office, ensuring public access to this valuable resource. Together, we can preserve and celebrate the heritage of Rainier Valley for generations to come. Join us Members Enjoy These Core Benefits Subscription to all RVHS publications. Presale access and reduced admission to tours, programs, lectures, and special events. Discounted image and document reproduction. Exclusive invites for hands-on participation in local research projects. Membership Levels Scholars & Seniors $20 Core membership benefits with valid ID Individual $30 Core membership benefits Household $30 All core membership benefits for 2 adults and dependents up to 18 years in age Patron $100 All core membership benefits And a copy of the book Rainier Valley Food Stories Cookbook History Maker $350 All core membership benefits + benefits of Patron level And 4 Hours of personalized research assistance Lifetime $500 A one-time payment to gain access to all core membership benefits for life Join us

To collect, preserve, exhibit, and interpret the history and heritage of Rainier Valley and its community and to educate and promote public involvement in, and appreciation of, its history and culture. Our Mission To collect, preserve, exhibit, and interpret the history and heritage of Rainier Valley and its community and to educate and promote public involvement in, and appreciation of, its history and culture. Our Goals 01. Research, document, and preserve the history of Rainier Valley. 03. Develop knowledge and understanding of the multi-ethnic history of the area. 02. Foster pride in Rainier Valley’s unique heritage. 04. Maintain and add to our permanent archive of oral histories, photographs, documents, and artifacts relating to the Rainier Valley. Land Acknowledgement: Rainier Valley Historical Society acknowledges the land our mission statement refers to as Rainier Valley is the original home of the Duwamish and Coast Salish peoples. We recognize the reverberations of colonialism past and present and the painful history of forced removal of these groups. Through this acknowledgment, we hope to honor and respect the Indigenous peoples who were, and still are connected to and are stewards of this land. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement Rainier Valley Historical Society is dedicated to sharing the stories and histories of the many types of community that make the larger Rainier Valley community a place of diversity and differences. Become a Member Help us preserve and celebrate the history of the Rainier Valley. Be a part of our advocacy for local preservation. get involved

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Explore a curated compilation of articles penned by RVHS founder, Buzz Anderson, for the South District Journal. Days Gone By Explore a curated compilation of articles penned by RVHS founder, Buzz Anderson, for the South District Journal. Buzz Anderson Mystery Building Identified: It’s Lakewood School The one room Lakewood Grade School located at 48th Ave S and Snoqualmie Street taught only 1st and 2nd graders from 1916 to 1927. RVHS... Buzz Anderson Columbia Hotel: “All You Can Eat For 25 Cents” It was a Sunday in 1906 and the Columbia Hotel’s elegant dining room, with white linen tablecloths and floral centerpieces, was featuring... Buzz Anderson Columbia City's First Pool Hall RVHS photo 1993.001.0032 There is a question as to the date this photograph was taken. Written on the back of this original photo we... Buzz Anderson Frigidaire Week at Grayson & Brown This is one of my favorite photos and I have it pinned on the wall in my home office. It is a nostalgic reminder to me of our family... Buzz Anderson Columbia Theater in the '30s This photo was taken looking northeast from the intersection of Rainier Avenue and Hudson Street. The Columbia Theater was a popular... Buzz Anderson An Interview with Dr. Bill Hutchinson Dr. Bill Hutchinson was a superb surgeon at Swedish Hospital for 40 years. He was touched by the cancer patients he treated, so he... Buzz Anderson Seward Park Peninsula This is a brief history of the Seward Park Peninsula or Bailey Peninsula as it is sometimes called. This illustrated map and article are... Buzz Anderson The Columbia Laundry This photo was taken in 1911, four years after Columbia City and Rainier Valley were annexed by the city of Seattle. The building was... Buzz Anderson Hausler Grocery Part 2 of 2: New Building at Rose Street This is the second of two articles about the Hausler family grocery store. The first article told about their move to Seattle from New... Buzz Anderson Hausler Grocery Part 1 of 2: Grocery Business for Sale - $100 Mr. and Mrs. Hausler bought the inventory and the lease on this building for $100 they didn’t have. He got the money however, by pawning... Buzz Anderson Lakewood Landing: 1902 This is a photo of the Steamer L.T. HAAS about to dock at the Lakewood Boat Landing supposedly located on Lake Washington at the foot of... Buzz Anderson Mr. Hipkins and His Maintenance Car ‘Pa Hip’ was the key man on the streetcar line. This is the shop-built locomotive used as a repair car for maintenance work on the... Buzz Anderson Columbia City’s Favorite Barbers - Circa 1908 The earliest reference we have regarding Columbia City’s barbers, Gardner and LaPorte, is 1907. Their partnership was listed in Carey... Buzz Anderson Street Car #21 There is some question as to the correct number of the streetcar shown in this photo from the archives of our Rainier Valley Historical... Mary Ann Balch Streetcar Mystery Historical Photo Leaves All To Imagination. What were those well-dressed folks doing on that day so long ago? As we enter the new... Buzz Anderson Rainier Valley Investment Co. RVHS Photo 1993.001.0012 This 1908 photo shows the office of the Rainier Valley Investment Co. at 4870 Rainier Avenue. The office was... Buzz Anderson Meet You By The Big Rock The “Big Rock” at 48th Ave. S and S. Ferdinand St. was once the meeting place of Valley Residents. This Photo of the Big Rock, with an... Buzz Anderson Simeon T. Toby's Bank Building RVHS Photo 1993.001.0006 This photo of the Toby building was taken about 1930. It was built by Simeon T. Toby in 1903, on the Southeast... Buzz Anderson Heater Glove Company Columbia City has had its share of manufacturing companies over the years. One of the more noteworthy was the Heater Glove Company,... Buzz Anderson The Genesee Dinky What put the car in the ditch? This photo depicts the Genesee Streetcar on a day when it was not going anywhere, at least not for a... 1 2 3

Watch and listen to our collection of interviews and videos. Oral Histories We have serval dozen oral histories in our collection. A portion of our catalog are available on our YouTube Channel. The full catalog is available to researchers by appointment. explore our library Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tumblr Copy Link Link Copied Submit Your Oral History Share your story with us! RVHS welcomes submissions of oral histories from individuals interested in preserving their experiences for future generations. To contribute to our library, fill out our contact form, and we'll reach out to you. contact us

Rainier Valley Historical Society maintains an ever-growing archive of historic photographs, documents, maps, oral histories, and artifacts. Our Archives & Collections The Rainier Valley Historical Society maintains an ever-growing archive of historic photographs, documents, maps, oral histories, and artifacts. The collection - along with a library of books and other research materials relating to the Rainier Valley - is available to the public during office hours or by appointment and on our online databases. Researchers are encouraged to contact the RVHS to discuss their requests in advance by emailing office@rainiervalleyhistory.org . Contact Our Team Collections Committee In 2009 the RVHS Board adopted a new Collections Policy that outlines our commitment to collect and preserved the historical materials in our care. The new policy establishes a Collections Committee that will oversee accessions, cataloging, and preservation efforts. Collections Scope The collection focuses on the history of the Rainier Valley from 1850 to the present day. Our geographic boundaries are from Dearborn Street on the north to the city limits on the south, and from I5 freeway to Lake Washington. Our collection has historically centered on the Columbia City and the period from 1890-1940, but we are working to expand the collection to include a broader geographic range, materials from WWII and the post war period, and from many ethnic and cultural communities to present the Rainier Valley today. Explore Our Archives Articles & Publications Photographs Newsletters Oral Histories

Join our team of volunteers who help us process archives, develop programming, and host events. Volunteer Form RVHS has collected, preserved, and shared the stories of the Rainier Valley since 1891. Our volunteers are essential partners in this effort. First Name Last Name Email Availability 1 day a week 1 day a month Occasionally What are you interested in helping with? Archiving Events Office hours Special projects SUBMIT Thanks for your interest! We'll get back to you shortly.

Visit us during office hours on Fridays from 10 am to 3 pm or schedule an appointment. Visit Us Visit us during office hours on Fridays from 10 am to 3 pm or schedule an appointment. Address 3710 S Ferdinand St Seattle, WA 98118 Contact (206) 723-1663 office@rainiervalleyhistory.org

We are interested in expanding our collection of photographs, artifacts, and documents. Please let us know if you have items you would be interested in donating. Grow Our Collection We are interested in expanding our collection of photographs, artifacts, and documents. Please let us know if you have items you would be interested in donating. All donation offers must be reviewed by our Collections Committee which meets monthly. While we are grateful for all offers, our Collections Policy requires that items accessioned into the collection have relevance to the history of the Rainier Valley. Cur rent priorities for collecting include: Items that reflect the wider Rainier Valley community, beyond Columbia City. Items that reflect cultural diversity and the post WWII era. If you'd like to discuss a collections donation, please email the collections committee at office@rainiervalleyhistory.org get in touch