I stopped by around 1:30 PM on a Saturday thinking I would do a quick walkthrough and be out and…read morethat plan lasted maybe six minutes. This is not a huge museum which helped. It never got tiring or repetitive and the layout made it easy to take in without the feeling you get when every display starts blending into the next one. I kept finding little things that made me slow down and actually read instead of doing the polite museum skim where you nod at a plaque and keep walking. What stood out most was how connected it felt to Auburn. It did not come across like random displays filling space just because a building needed exhibits. It felt rooted here. That matters more than people think. By the time I left, I felt like I understood the area better than I did when I walked in, and that is really the whole job. my daughter would have absolutely been the kid reading one fact out loud and then asking eleven follow-up questions on the way to the car, so maybe I should have brought her and committed to the full experience. For a smaller local museum, this surprised me in the best way. Go when you have an hour and want something interesting without turning it into an all day thing

This is a small, well-run historical museum with a growing, well-deserved reputation that has led…read moreto it's increased prominence on both a regional and national level.

This mansion museum was a great way to spend a slow afternoon in Puyallup…read more It is currently a $15 fee for adults to do a self tour of the home. You are welcome to take photos, and please, take your time! There is plenty to read either on the pamphlet given to you at the entrance, or on the walls beside all the beautiful furniture, paintings, and artifacts. It's hard not to imagine yourself at the turn of the century, living in wealth in this fancy home, like the Meekers did. Ezra and Eliza Meeker were a fascinating couple who did so much with their lives, even into their last years. Traveling the Oregon Trail, hitting success with a hop business, Ezra being the mayor twice, Eliza founding the town's public library and strongly supporting the suffrage movement. I also can't help but to respect Eliza even more for her strength in character even though she was of small stature (4'8")! Especially for those who live in the area, I highly recommend you learn about this historic Puyallup family with a visit to the Meeker Mansion Museum!

I happened to be in the area and saw a sign for the Meeker Mansion, so I decided to check it out…read more Diane was very sweet and gracious and gave me a brief history of Ezra & Eliza Meeker. "Ezra was an American pioneer who traveled the Oregon Trail migrated from Iowa to the Pacific Coast. Once known as the Hop King of the World." A lot of good history of Puyallup. I didn't have time for the tour, but I appreciated seeing the mansion and getting a glimpse of this city's history. Next time, I'll have to do the tour. Thank you again, Diane, for being so nice and friendly!

Not too many people are aware of the LeMay Collections at Marymount. The more popular museum is the…read moreLeMay - America's Car Museum off the 5. The special Motorcycle Days exhibit gave me an excuse to make the trek here. The museum did a great job with their variety of programming. I enjoyed seeing not only the vintage and modern motorcycle exhibits, but also the area that guests could park their own bikes for others to see. The property used to be a military academy. Each building has been well preserved and housed a mix of historical artifacts and vehicles. I particularly liked the Union State building because it displayed vehicles in chronological order from the late 1800s to the early 2000s. The signage throughout were very informative. We did not upgrade our passes to the guided tour of the White Building, but you can add that anytime during your visit. Two other things I learned during my visit is that they have car auctions there and host weddings!

This is an incredible find. Well worth the already reasonable ticket price for entry - be sure to…read morepay the extra to see the 2nd building - it is worth the entire ticket by itself. So the first set up is you go through a series of rooms featuring various cars from the collection displayed in an orderly fashion, with explanations that are historical, contextual, and interesting. Then, if you purchase the add-on, you are escorted across the grounds (cool in itself) to a large garage holding a plethora of vehicles lined up in rows according to a timeline and with explanations - plus other memorabilia such as examples of what a kitchen would have looked like from a certain era that a car came from. Really wonderfully entertaining and educational.

It's an active air base, so logically, security is tight. However, no one could direct me to the…read moremuseum (2 didn't even know there was one). My time was limited, so after getting 3 bad directions I decided to skip a visit. Too bad; I really wanted to the see the PBY.

This is a small museum on the Air Force base. It is open to the public but check their website for…read morerestrictions to getting on base. A pass is required. The museum building is small. An array of stuff inside. You will have to drive to 2 different areas where the static display aircraft are. One is called Heritage Park. Great views of Mt Rainier. Some nice aircraft. Great area. The other spot has 3 jets on display atop large standing mounts as if they are lifting off or in flight. Docent at the museum told me to be careful taking pictures in this area as the large white building next to is a classified structure. I drove thru a parking lot and decided not to stop and get out. Didnt want to take the chance of someone thinking I was taking pics of anything else. Next time I'll take the wife and we'll both chance it. If you are fond of military history or an aircraft buff. This is a nice museum.

Fife History Museum is a small museum, but it's a great place to spend an afternoon. It's packed…read morewith tons of history and interesting artifacts. They have historical military uniforms and memorabilia from Fife's service-members throughout history. They have an entire collection of beautiful, ornate miniature paper umbrellas folded by Japanese-Americans in the nearby internment camps during WWII using discarded cigarette wrappers. They have recreated schoolrooms, historic school yearbooks, and rotating exhibitions - right now it's one about the history of the QWERTY keyboard. It's a really cool spot that really took me by surprise. And the staff is really knowledgeable and helpful.

On the first Saturday of the month from 1:00 - 5:00p, look for the Red Shoe Banners outside stores…read moreand galleries in downtown Gig Harbor. I read about the Art Walk in a Tacoma paper and so we decided to cross the Tacoma Narrows Bridge for a little outing, not really expecting much. I thought it might be held outdoors along the waterfront, similar to a Farmer's Market. Instead, galleries open their doors, and in some cases offer appetizers and drinks, which is so very smart with our typical NW weather. There is also a scavenger hunt element. Pick up a form at any gallery, collect the stamps at each location and you are entered in the monthly drawing for a gift certificate or prize from one of the galleries. The Art Walk is just an excuse to visit the charming city of Gig Harbor. My husband was ready to strap his kayak to our car and move here. It was that beautiful. When we visited, there were seven businesses participating in the Art Walk and everyone was very welcoming. Most were clustered within easy walking distance of each other in the heart of Gig Harbor, so it was a nice way to see this town. One gallery was located about a mile north, but still an easy drive with a pretty view. Of the seven businesses, we made purchases in two. So great for the businesses and even better for me. Frugal Jen tip for my fellow Oregonians - mention you are an Oregon resident to the gallery owners and you don't need to pay sales tax on your purchases. Just present your OR driver's license and enjoy some tax-free shopping!

The Buffalo Soldiers Museum is definitely an overlooked museum in Tacoma and is definitely worth…read morechecking out. Admission is free which is always a plus! If you want to donate however you can by the front door. The Buffalo Soldiers is a term for African American cavalry soldiers. The term was given by Native Americans because these soldiers reminded them of the buffalo due to the fierce and brave nature which was often how the animal exhibited. This museum focuses on 9th and 10th cavalry regiments but the 24th and 25th Infantry Regiments. These regiments were involved in several wars. The American Indian Wars, Spanish-American War, Philippine-American War, Mexican Border War and World War 1 and World War 2. Other wars are mentioned at the museum as well like the Korean War. The museum is relatively small but there is a large amount of information and artifacts and the person that greeted us was very friendly and gave us lots of information which was great! I definitely recommend the Buffalo Soldier's Museum as there are lots of pieces and stories from American history here that is fascinating and educational!

I was told about the Buffalo Soldier Museum by a neighbor friend of mine on a Friday afternoon as…read morewe sat enjoying lunch together. She mentioned her parents who had been visiting from California, went to the museum and found it very interesting and enjoyable. The museum had limited hours they were open. She reached for her phone and looked up the museum hours. Well, it just so happened, the museum was going to be open the next day between the hours of 12pm - 4pm. So, here I am enjoying and learning about the Buffalo Soldiers. I highly recommend going to this little museum in the Hilltop neighborhood and supporting the museum and the legacy of the Buffalo Soldiers. Totally loved it!

Taking in the distant views of Commencement Bay, I stumbled upon Job Carr Cabin Museum…read more Unfortunately, it was Monday, so they were closed, so I couldn't walk into the museum. It was interesting to read of Job Carr, Tacoma's first permanent non-Native resident. The cabin is a replica.

This is a nice place to get some fun pictures and learn a little about the history of Tacoma! When…read morewe went there was a girl who gave a us a quick overview. After you make a visit be sure to stop by Treos next door to grab flatbread and a beer!