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The Whatcom Museum acknowledges that we gather on the traditional territory of the Lhaq’temish – Lummi People – and the Nuxwsá7aq – Nooksack People – who have lived in the Coast Salish region from time immemorial. The Museum honors our relationship with all of our Coast Salish neighbors and our shared responsibilities to their homeland where we all reside today.

Thank you for your interest in our favorite museum! We are committed to serving as both a community magnet and a regional destination for cultural experiences rooted in art, nature and northwest history. Here, as part of our vision to connect people to new ideas, old traditions and each other, visitors take part in a vast range of programs and exhibitions designed to get us all thinking about our changing cultural, natural and historical landscapes. The goal? Build strong art muscles. Understand our shared heritage. Stretch minds, inspire preservation and stoke creativity in the name of sustaining Bellingham at its best.

Sound Interesting? Come visit us! We are located in Bellingham’s growing Arts District, where you’ll also find the Mount Baker Theatre, SPARK: the Museum of Electrical Invention, The Pickford Film Center, Mindport Exhibits, Make.Shift Gallery, and Allied Arts, along with some great Bellingham coffee shops, beer stops, and food spots.

The Whatcom Museum is a non-profit organization operated jointly by the City of Bellingham and the Whatcom Museum Foundation. Our collection contains more than 200,000 artifacts and art works of regional importance, including a vast photographic archive. The Whatcom Museum is accredited nationally by the American Alliance of Museums, is a member of the American Association for State and Local History, and is a Smithsonian Institution Affiliate.

Our Mission: The Whatcom Museum provides innovative and interactive educational programs and exhibitions about art, nature, and Northwest history. We seek to stimulate curiosity about our changing cultural, natural, and historical landscapes, for the youngest to the oldest minds, and to inspire preservation of and creative contributions to our region and beyond.

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Thanks to our sponsors:

 

 

 

 

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Funding has been provided by Humanities Washington and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act economic stabilization plan of 2020.