We are thrilled to announce that we will be able to partially reopen to the public. Beginning on Friday, September 4th , the Museum will be open to the public with a limited schedule Friday-Sunday, 10am – 4pm.
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Bainbridge Island is a vibrant city enlivened by many smaller communities of people who live, work, and play here.
What is special about Bainbridge Island communities? Explore this exhibit to find out.
Between Fall 2000 and August 2001, more than 2 dozen hate crimes were reported on Bainbridge Island. The Filipino American Community Hall and many Jewish and Japanese graves sites at the Port Blakely Cemetery were vandalized.
To protest these crimes, several Island organizations formed the Bainbridge Island Unity Coalition. They created and distributed an educational pamphlet Stand Against Hate, created a volunteer hate crimes response team, and organized a rally and march in August 2001.
In 1991, students in Eric Hoffman’s 8th grade class at Commodore Middle School spearheaded a march in response to racially-charged acts of vandalism and print materials left at homes on Bainbridge Island.
To protest these hate crimes, the students organized meetings with leaders in the community, planned the march, made signs to advertise the event, and hosted poster parties.
Island photographer, Joel Sackett, explores the history of Bainbridge Island through the built environment with his latest body of work. It is highly personal and selective. The photography exhibit is composed of mostly of older homes that are still in use, repurposed, or in disrepair. All of them come with stories of Island lives and history.
In His Own Words
Variations on a Story
2020
Fact checking is subject to the vagaries of memory and supposition. Were the picker cabins on Day Road built by Akio Suyematsu who might have been influenced by the barracks he saw in the concentration camps? Or, were they built by Akio’s father? Or, did they build them together? Did the cabins burn down once and get rebuilt? All variations on the same story that I heard.
Stillness and Resilience
2020
“There is a cycle of rejuvenation that takes place as buildings age. Some are considered disposable, and are torn down to make way for progress, while others, like our cabin, go through cycles of repair and use over the years.
It has a great feeling of stillness and resilience that we hope to preserve along with the antique timbers in the next round of strengthening and preservation that is needed soon.”
Michael Wynne-Jones
Rejuvenation
2020
“My mother, Irmgard Grabo, built this cabin in the 70’s partly from trees growing on the property. My sisters, friends, and I helped peel the logs. It cost about $500.
My mother lived there for about 15 years until she had her present home built in 1989. In 2017, 42 years later, I rejuvenated the cabin so that I could help my 90 year old mom continue to live in her own house about 200 feet away.”
Anne Waring
Fourth and Fifth Generations
2020
“My mom, Karen (Koltoff) is the 4th generation in this house and I’m the 5th. The land was given to Hattie Lee Grow and John Parfitt by Ambrose and Amanda Grow on their wedding day. The house was built by John Parfitt. I love this old place. I’m just the caretaker. It’s good to be connected to your history.”
John Mammes
