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Bainbridge History Museum: Island Stories

Explore Bainbridge Island's diverse past: from Native American heritage to Japanese American history, all in a charming setting.

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Discover the rich history of Bainbridge Island at the Bainbridge History Museum. Exhibits explore the island's Native American heritage, early settlement, maritime history, Japanese American internment, and more, offering a glimpse into the events and people that shaped this Puget Sound community [2, 7, 8].

A brief summary to Bainbridge History Museum

  • Wednesday 10 am-4 pm
  • Thursday 10 am-4 pm
  • Friday 10 am-4 pm
  • Saturday 10 am-4 pm
  • Sunday 10 am-4 pm

Local tips

  • Allow at least 1.5-2 hours to fully explore the museum's exhibits and research library.
  • Check the museum's website for information on current exhibits, events, and public programming [2, 8].
  • Combine your visit with a walk around Winslow, the island's main town, or explore other historical sites on Bainbridge [4, 11].
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Getting There

  • Walking

    From the Bainbridge Island Ferry Terminal, the museum is approximately a 10-minute walk [8]. Head northeast on Olympic Drive SE, then turn left onto Ericksen Avenue NE. The museum will be on your left at 215 Ericksen Ave NE [15].

  • Public Transport

    Kitsap Transit operates several bus routes on Bainbridge Island that connect with the ferry schedule [11, 19]. Check the Kitsap Transit website or app for the most up-to-date schedules and route information [11, 15]. The museum is located near the intersection of several bus routes on Ericksen Avenue [15].

  • Parking

    Limited public parking is available near the museum [2]. Several parking lots are located within a few blocks of the Bainbridge Island Ferry Terminal [6, 9, 12]. Rates range from $11-$15 for all-day parking [6, 9]. Be sure to check the signs at each lot for specific time limits and prices [6, 9, 12].

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Discover more about Bainbridge History Museum

The Bainbridge History Museum offers a captivating journey through the island's past, revealing its unique and diverse stories [8, 18]. Housed in a historic 1908 schoolhouse, the museum brings history to life through interactive exhibits, artifacts, and oral histories [2, 3, 5]. Exhibits delve into the lives of the Suquamish people, who have inhabited the island for thousands of years, highlighting their fishing, canoe-building, and basket-weaving traditions [7, 8, 18]. Visitors can explore the impact of the Port Blakely lumber mill, once the world's most productive, and the island's maritime history, including the Mosquito Fleet and the current Seattle ferry system [2, 3, 17, 18]. A particularly moving exhibit focuses on the Japanese American exclusion during World War II, a significant event in the island's history [2, 3, 7, 18]. The museum also showcases the island's agricultural heritage, the story of pickleball's origins on Bainbridge, and the island's vibrant community life [7, 18]. With its engaging displays and commitment to preserving local history, the Bainbridge History Museum offers an enriching experience for visitors of all ages [2, 7, 8].

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