BaRgAiNs GaLoRe

The Museum Gift Shop is having an after Christmas sale. Christmas items and other inventory is 45-60% off. A front and center shelf is full of bargains.

The snowman teapot and cups and saucers are all 50% off. If you've been waiting for them to go on sale, now is your chance.
We have two of the Lego Toy Story 3 Western Chase Trains sets available. They are marked down from $78 to $68 for a limited time only. Lego trains are amazingly resilient and last for years. My guys are a little old(ages 23, 20 & 17) for this Toy Story edition of the Lego train but honestly, it's so cute I am tempted... They are not offered in the 2011 Lego catalog.
Hurry in tomorrow...

Milk Bottles

The museum was given milk bottles that were to be sold by the museum. This happens when someone would like to donate an item to the museum but it isn't an artifact for our collections. We came up with the idea of Milk and Cookies for Santa Kits. For $3.00 you get the bottle, the recipes, Santa's key poems and helpful tips. Another blogger used them to decorate too. I love this idea.

On Thursday evening we are hosting our annual shoppers' night. We'll be open from 5-8 p.m. Every customer will receive 25 % off one item. There will be treats, surprise sales and milk bottles.

I hope to see you there.

2010 Open House

Last evening was the Lynden Pioneer Museum's 34th Annual Open house. An amazing evening with so much excitement in the air you could feel it.

Our director, Troy Luginbill and his Dad, George Luginbill brought Mabel, their WWII truck, for her debut. They have been working hard to get her running and refurbished and last night she was parked in front of the museum in all of her glory.

The shops on the museum's Front Street came alive with shopkeepers, experts,

authors and visitors.

Special thanks for the delicious desserts. The Lynden Dutch Bakery, Doris Jean's Donut's and our own docents and volunteers, the Whatcom Dairy Women and Ambassadors and Lynden Starbucks all brought something to the table. Yum!

It's the best night of the year at the museum, the whole museum is packed with families and presenters. The place just hums! I love it!

See you next year...

Pioneer Spirit.

One of Whatcom County premiere historians, Dorothy Koert, wrote a series of books as well articles about pioneers around the county. We are very thankful for her recording of county history and would love to share some of her writings with you. A few of the articles were published in the Lynden Tribune as a part of the Bicentennial celebration from 1974-1976.

(from Lynden Tribune 1976)

Do you have a pioneer spirit?

Looking Back

I've been spending some time at the Lynden Tribune looking through old papers for a project. Right now I'm spending time in the 1970s. Good stuff there.

In the early/mid 70s this sign was put up on the corner of the Hannegan Road and Sunset Drive. I love it.

I wonder what happened to this sign.

Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!

Last Thursday we celebrated our members! We held our annual Members' BBQ at the museum and like every year it was a major success. It seems our members like the simple things - hot dogs with all the fixings, baked beans, chips and a dessert of berries!

We also know that our members love the museum. They are members because they want to see the Lynden Pioneer Museum continue to preserve, protect and promote our local history. Without our members we are just a big building filled with old stuff. With our members - we are alive!

Tami (membership/volunteer/gift shop coordinator) started off the cooking!

Grilled onions and peppers and some delicious hot dogs on the grill!

We were happy to have Fred (Mr. Tami) back this year to man the grill! Here he is serving Troy (director/curator) his meal! Thanks Fred!

Once again a HUGE Thank YOU to all our members who support and encourage us to make YOUR museum the best museum around.

Didn't get an invite to the party? Want to next year? Become a member (we'd love to have you)!

"History teaches everything including the future." - Lamartine

We have survived the fair (and will miss it until next year), we are gearing up for our annual members' barbecue, the Lynde 500, the annual open house in October and then the holiday rush...There is never a dull moment at the Lynden Pioneer Museum.

As the summer is coming to a close and the kids are heading back to school this is the perfect time to spend a leisurely afternoon with the family taking in your local museum. There is no better time than now to introduce your children, your parents, your friends, your neighbors to the treasure of history which is found in abundance in this building. We welcome you to stop in, say hi and enjoy!

Custer Daze

Looking for something fun to do this weekend?

(click on image to view larger)

Head on over to Custer on Saturday and enjoy the fun of Custer Daze. Wondering where in Custer? Well...just head "downtown" and you'll find it - I promise! I hear the parade is great (real floats and all) and the vendors are plenty. AND I highly recommend grabbing a buffalo burger when you get hungry. I have read that a local historian is putting together a booth on the history of Custer (which interesting to say the least...Did you know Loretta Lynn is from Custer?).

Enjoy and let me know if you participated in this local fun!

"A Walk Back In Time" Cemetery Tours

The Lynden Pioneer Museum in conjunction with Moles-Good Steward Funerals and the City of Lynden is pleased to present "A Walk Back In Time" cemetery tours at the Lynden Public Cemetery.

Visit the resting places of the Judsons, Hawleys, Berthusens, Tennants and other local pioneer families. 

The Lynden public cemetery was founded in 1889 when the Lynden Masonic Lodge and Odd Fellows created the cemetery as a community burial ground. 

Landowners donated the land in 1891 to form the Lynden Cemetery Association. The Cemetery was maintained and operated by the Lynden Lodge until 1974 then became Whatcom County Cemetery District 10.

The cemetery contains many interesting and historic grave sites that include early pioneers, war heros, settlers, homesteaders, native princesses and unique gravestones.

Cemetery tours are available every Saturday through October 15 at 1:00. These FREE tours take approximately one hour.

Meet at the Lynden Cemetery on the south corner of the Guide and Front Street. 

If you are interested in a private tour or tours outside the regular tour schedule please contact Troy at the Lynden Pioneer Museum at 360.354.3675.

These cemetery tours are presented as a free community service.

Thanks again to Moles-Good Steward Funerals for their support of this program.

A New Face

You may notice a slight change on many of the museums faces. We have a new logo. But what does that logo mean?




The logo says alot of things about us. Here are some things to note:

*It is roundish! Because we are Flowing and fun and dynamic. Your museum is never standing still. We are always upgrading, adding and making the museum better.

*There is a barn! Whatcom County is Agriculture. Farmers built this county, they keep it running as the main industry. Our heritage is an agricultural and farming heritage.

*There is a Buggy! The Polinder Buggy collection is the centerpiece of the museum's many fabulous items. It is the largest collection of horse drawn vehicles West of the Mississippi river and represents a significant aspect of American History. Transportation.

*There is a Car! Transportation technology has been the single biggest changer of American Culture. The invention of the car changed nearly every aspect of human life and made the largest human architectural endeavor a reality-the U.S. Interstate system.

*It says "The Best 2 Hours You Will Spend Discovering History". Because this statement is true. The amount of information we have packed into this building is incredible. It takes an average visitor 2 hours to explore the history of Whatcom County. And we guarantee it will be the best museum experience you will have.

Why? Our docents are friendly and knowlegeable. Our exhibits bring history to life, our collections represent unique and significant moments in local and national history. Our admission price is lower than going to a movie and you learn more, feel better about yourself and connect with the world around you.

So support your Lynden Pioneer Museum. Your admissions, gift shop purchases, donations, and memberships are 90% of our budget. Please become a member of the museum and protect your heritage.

This is what our logo represents. What does it say to you?

Docents

Reading how to become a docent on ehow I realized it is much easier at the Lynden Pioneer Museum, so in BOLD I've inserted the Lynden Pioneer Museum way.
Step 1
Find a museum where you want to volunteer. EASY! The Lynden Pioneer Museum!Make sure the museum's content interests you because you'll be putting a lot of time into the program. Maybe NOT a lot of time, one morning or afternoon a week or become a substitute on call.

Step 2
Fill out any forms to apply for the program. ONE page at the Lynden Pioneer Museum! Filling out a form doesn't guarantee you will get in. Sometimes there are more applicants than openings. Make sure your application makes it apparent that you love the museum's content. Museum employees might like to see that you incorporate the museum's subject into your free time. Make your personality shine through as much as possible. They are looking for sociable, dynamic people. If you are sociable and looking to meet new friends, LPM is a good match for you. Many of our docents become good friends, visiting while they work, or putting together a jigsaw puzzle in the lobby, playing cribbage in between helping visitors, working crossword puzzles, knitting or reading a good book.

Step 3
Attend the training courses and be ready to study. Study? No. How often you meet will vary from museum to museum, but don't be surprised if you meet more than once a week, and for more than six months. Easy at the Lynden Pioneer Museum, one training session with Tami and then on the job training with another docent. You will probably attend a lot of lectures to learn about the museum's exhibits. Troy may lecture us but that isn't training, hee hee. Your instructors will also talk about how to lead tours and how to change your tour for different groups of visitors. For example, think about how you would change your presentation about a certain piece if you showed it to a 9-year-old and then a 79-year-old, or how would you keep people from touching the exhibits. In the end, you might also lead sample tours, consisting of your classmates and museum employees.

Step 4
Schedule time to volunteer at your museum. Don't worry, Tami will call you and get you on the calendar. Museums have invested time and money into your training, so they will most likely expect you to commit to a certain number of hours per week. Your responsibilities could include leading tours, giving demonstrations, helping visitors with hands-on activities, or even community outreach programs that could take you to local schools.

Step 5
Continue your education with any required docent readings or training. Because exhibits are constantly changing, some museums have weekly classes for their current docents. No weekly class, just notes left by the front desk and occasional on the job lectures by our director, Troy. Ask Troy about Lynden's history or an exhibit, he'll tell!

Step 6
Commit for the long haul. Some docent programs will ask you to commit to volunteering for several years. Hey, don't worry about a huge time block. At the Lynden Pioneer Museum we understand that you are a volunteer and that you have family, friends, vacations and a life outside of your museum. Getting time off is easy.

Call Tami at the museum at 360-354-3675 to schedule a training session today.

Oh, and at the Lynden Pioneer Museum we have a Docent Dinner every year. A night of appreciation, with good music, delicious food and over the top yummy desserts!

Say It, Wear It, Mean It

Shains. A new fun bracelet to express yourself. Got something to say? Say it with Shains. The Lynden Pioneer Museum Gift Shop has a large selection of bracelets, alphabets and add-ons. The add-ons are only $1. Shains are a super fun birthday gift. A portion of the purchase is donated to an environmental organization. So you can feel good about shopping too. Gotta love that!

a fundraising we will go...

...or have trailer will travel!

Every year since the early 1980s the Lynden Pioneer Museum has had a fireworks booth in Lynden. It all started with Col. Jim and has passed hands a few times along the way.

Fireworks is the biggest, most time-intensive (and dare I say fun?) fundraiser of the year. We've been supplying Lynden and the surrounding area with 4th of July fun for longer than any other organization in town! We know what we're doing!

Our trailer got a little facelift this year. A new coat of paint and some patriotic decor! It still needs a bit of work, but it is feeling just a little bit snazzier!

We'd love to have you come visit and pick up a firework or two. DeAnne and I will be ready to "talk shop" with you and set you up with what you need.

So, stop by Lynden Towne Plaza (Food Pavilion parking lot) and pick up what you want!

I Love Toy Story

Toy Story 3 came out this weekend. I can't go to see it until one of my guys comes home to go with me. My guys aren't around this summer, similar to the new Toy Story movie where Andy leaves for college. All of those toys being left behind for bigger and better things.

I still have Buzz, Woody, and the green army guys upstairs. At the Lynden Pioneer Museum I have the new Toy Story Legos ready for your favorite boy or girl. They look like so much fun. I'm thinking my Army guy may get the green army guy Lego set in his Christmas stocking.

They won't last long, stop by Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., for your Toy Story Legos.

New Playmobil

Under the sea expeditions, even the the huge whale is in stock!


The playmobil wedding sets are so cute! The church, caterer, photographer, the pianist, and of course the bride and groom. Oh, and the honeymoon get away car complete with cans tied to the back. Every little girl's dream come true.

Yes, the Lynden Pioneer Museum has playmobil! A lot of it! So, come in today and find the perfect gift for your playmobil collector.

We're Here

The Lynden Pioneer Museum Gift Shop got a face lift this month. Now if you are a block away from the museum at the stop light you can see that the museum has a gift shop.

We offer toys, gifts, postcards and local history books. We have had many customers come in and tell us that they never knew we had a gift shop. Yep, we do and we sell playmobil and lego, locally!

Those guys you see in the window will give you cheerful service too!

...and the award goes to

Yesterday afternoon we attended an awards ceremony at Western Washington University. Troy accepted an award from The Teaching-Learning Academy in recognition for promoting a sustainable, reflective learning culture. The Lynden Heritage Foundation president, Clarence Zylstra, and his lovely wife Heather joined us for this event.

Troy, and the museum, was nominated by one of his former professors, Joyce Hammond, who now places interns at the museum. Her nomination stated: "...for providing internships to students that allow for expanded learning and reflection in ways that enrich student experience."

Sasquatch by Rod Pullar

Troy really enjoys having interns from the university as well as other local educational institutions including the high schools. This was quite an honor...especially since it was awarded for what he truly loves to do - expand learning and giving great opportunities.

As graduates of WWU we are always happy to go back to campus and check out what is new and reminisce about days gone by. When I said I needed a picture for the blog Troy picked Sasquatch which is located in Viking Union.

Nice work Troy on creating such a wonderful work environment where interns feel accepted and encouraged to expand their learning and creativity.

oh we've got a pickle alright!

The Lynden Pioneer Museum, with over 28,000 square feet of exhibit space and storage for artifacts is filled with treasures. From cars to coffee grinders and buggies to organs...we've got it all. We love all our exhibits and think we have one of the best collections EVER and in particular we are especially fond of one artifact.

It gives us the hee-bee jeebies sometimes, the thought of it can make your stomach churn, but I think we all agree that is by far one of our favorites.

What is it? Oh yes friends it is a pickle. In honor of International Pickle Week 2010 we wanted to share one of our most treasured artifacts with you.

The label on the jar says:

"This cucumber was grown from seed planted by G.A. Heuika on June 24, 186- at Wayland, Michigan."

So there you have it...a really old pickle in a really old jar making it's home at the Lynden Pioneer Museum. If that isn't a reason to visit I don't know what is.

***note: Pickle is not out on display (for what are probably obvious reasons), however if you ask at the front counter I'm sure someone would love to show it off to you!***

Lynde 500 is up and rolling!

LETS KICK UP SOME DUST!!!! 

The Lynde 500 is starting up again.  Labor Day this year we will be racing, grilling dogs, and generally having the best time ever in Lynden.

For those of you who do not know what the Lynde 500 is click here.  And here.

It is a push kart race in which 3 runners push a car with a driver around a devious curvy race track.  The fastest team wins $1,000!!!!!

If you would like to enter here are the rules and entry packet.  This is the adult division, you need a team of 4 (3 pushers and a driver), must be 14 or older.

If you would like to enter the youth division here is the rules and entry packet.  You need only 2 (a pusher and a driver) and must be between 12 and 14.  We supply the car.


For a general information flier click here.

The Lynde 500 is the fastest and coolest sport going.

We would like to thank the Lynden Lions club for sponsoring this year's finish line!

If you would like to volunteer for the event or be on the committee or simply have any questions please feel free to contact Troy Luginbill at 354-3675.

Here we go!

The Volunteer Dinner is all ready to go!  Tami Rylaarsdam, our volunteer coordinator, and Jerrie Luginbill, our perpetual volunteer who does it all and never gets recognized for all that she does, have created a beautiful pink dream to celebrate all that our voluteers do for us.  It promises to be a wonderful evening.

Volunteers, the heart of a community

The Lynden Pioneer Museum is getting ready for our annual volunteer dinner.  This is a dinner were we take the time to honor the tireless efforts our volunteers put in to make the museum not just available to the public but also such a wonderful place.

Just some facts about our volunteers.

The provide over 5800 hours of service to the museum.  We have over 60 volunteers working in various positions.  Our volunteers range in age from 16-90.  This is not counting the interns we have from local schools and universities and through labor programs.  We regularly host training positions through AARP and the Federal Employment office.  Our volunteers work on exhibits, collections, public relations, in the gift shop and at the front desk.

And they are just a fraction of the volunteers that you find around whatcom county in other community organizations.

Many feel that our local quality of life comes from the surrounding countrysides beauty.  I think it comes from the hearts and actions of the people who take the time to give a little of themselves and their lives to making this corner of the world the best place to be.

Volunteer.

Welcome

The Lynden Pioneer Museum has been around for 34 years now.  It was a labor of love to start and has been one to continue.  Many board members, volunteers and staff have come and gone but still the museum maintains its charm, vibrancy and a certain something that makes it a fun, friendly place to visit and make a part of your life.

My name is Troy Luginbill, I am the current Director/Curator.  I will be updating this blog regularly with information on upcoming events, local historic tidbits, surmises about history in general, cool gift shop stuff, and information on local attractions. 

If you would like to be a contributing author to this blog please contact me at Troy@lyndenpioneermusuem.com. 

If you have a question about history please also contact me at the above address or at the museum and let me know.  I will publish the question and the results on this blog for all to see.

I look forward to seeing you all and being your guide on this journey into the past.