Two wheels are better than Four!

Starting in the end of May the Lynden Pioneer Museum will be hosting an exhibit on the history of the Bicycle.

The Bicycle has become ubiquitous among human culture. In China Bicycles are the main cause of traffic jams! Originally invented in the early 1800s they were the primary driver for technologic invention that later allowed the automobile to develop. Such things as pneumatic tires, chain drive, ball bearings and self tensioning rims were developed for the bicycle but later allowed the car to become what it is today.

Bicycles have inspired art as well and we would like to exhibit some of your art bikes. If you are an artist with a unique flair and would like to make a bike for the museum exhibit please let us know. If you own a bike that is more beautiful than practical then we would like to exhibit it!

Finding Aunt Phoebe: Upcoming Event

Finding Aunt Phoebe: My Search for the True Life of Phoebe Goodell Judson

Thursday, January 13, 2011 at 1:30 p.m.

Lynden Pioneer Museum
Cost: FREE

IF...you have read Phoebe Goodell Judson's remarkable book, A Pioneer's Search for an Ideal Home, perhaps you think that you know the story of Phoebe's life. Well, maybe not! Come and hear Mary Michaelson, Phoebe Judson historian, talk about the many surprising facts she has discovered over the last six years of in depth research.

DISCOVER...the "story behind the story." Where were Phoebe and her husband, Holden, living prior to their move to Whatcom County in 1870? (hint: it's not where you think). Why didn't Phoebe tell us the whole story? This is just one example of information that is missing from Phoebe's book.

LEARN...how Mary discovered these little-known facts with a combonation of diligence, teamwork, affirmative prayer and "co-inky-dinks." Mary isn't your garden-variety researcher.

BE AMAZED! BE AMUSED!...Mary presents without a net. No scripts, no notes, no visual aids other than her lovely PowerPoint slide show. She has a phenomenal memory for a myriad of seeminly unrelated facts, assembling the puzzle pieces to present a surprising picture of the
"TRUE LIFE OF PHOEBE JUDSON."

Don't miss this fascinating free program!

This program is jointly sponsored by Humanities Washington Inquiring Minds Program and the Lynden Pioneer Museum.



Snowman Milk Bottles

I saw this idea on Bakerella and had to share it! Small milk bottles are available at the Lynden Pioneer Museum Gift Shop for $3 each. Just add the powdered sugar donut holes, chocolate jimmies for the eyes and mouth and an orange sunflower seed for the snowman's nose. A scarf, buttons, and a straw to drink the milk. Donut hole and milk for the snack time ... cutest winter snack ever.

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?