Fife History Museum is a small museum that punches above its weight, and part of that comes from serving a community (population 10,103) with some of the longest-running history in the area.
The Fife History Museum opened in 2006 and is set in a house that looks quaint from the outside, but boasts a sprawling interior.
Just outside the main entrance, a mural depicting the main stages of Fife settlement greets visitors.
The museum opens with a living-room atmosphere, but one that harkens back to a pre-television time when living rooms were staged around conversation.
It’s a well-guarded living room, with uniforms from Fife’s heroes – firefighters, police officers, military – watching over the place. Their stories are told in the HEROES: History Through Their Stories exhibit.
And yes, the mannequins. Some tell the story of Fife’s original settlers, from countries like Switzerland…
…and Japan. During the internment of Japanese-Americans during WWII, women sometimes occupied their time making ornate, miniature paper umbrellas from discarded cigarette packages. Even replicas of single umbrellas are now rare and prized possessions. The Fife History Museum was gifted a tree full of authentic umbrellas from a nearby internment camp.
They’re incredibly intricate.
Incredibly.
The QWERTY exhibit of the history of typewriters is temporary, but our evolving keyboard addiction is forever.
In the exhibition, they even have a sleek typewriter designed by a famous car designer. (Hint: It doesn't help you type faster.)
But overall, education and a connection to the Fife area is why the Fife History Museum exists, and there are plenty of ways people can connect.
Visit www.fifehistorymuseum.org/ for more information.
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- 5201 20th St E
- (253) 922-1270
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- (253) 922-2500
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