Museum would provide way to save history of locals

History was made 80 years ago, July 16. Thousands of people gathered at the Grand Coulee Dam site in 1933 as Gov. Clarence Martin oversaw the groundbreaking for the dam. With a sledge hammer in hand, Martin promised that Grand Coulee Dam would deliver cheap power and millions of gallons of irrigation water to a country upended by the depression.

It took more than eight years to build the dam. The hard work and hot, dry climate claimed 77 lives but helped millions of people. The Grand Coulee Dam stands as a monument to hard-working people. On July 16, 1933 the history of the Grand Coulee Dam area changed forever, but there are several other events and people that are a part of the history of this area.

The Coulee Pioneer Museum group is working to provide a way of preserving the history of the people, places, business of the locals of the Grand Coulee Dam Area. The museum will be an avenue for the community to display the heritage of the area in a common way before it is lost. Pioneers are passing every day and taking the historical stories with them. The Museum group has a logo, address, bank account, just applied for a 501 (c) 3 non-profit status and hopes to start gathering video histories.

The number one challenge at this time are funds and a home for the Coulee Pioneer Museum. Things seem to be moving at a snail’s pace, but we know in time all the efforts of the volunteers will pay off. With a home of some kind we can organize the information that we have gathered the past five years. The community would have a place to donate material, stories, etc.

If you would like to be a part of this dream, help with grant writing, gathering stories, writing articles, photo captions and much much more. Monthly meetings will be held the first Wednesday of the month at the Art Room at the Senior Center at 1 p.m.

Birdie Hensley

Chairman of the

Pioneer Museum