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Becoming a volunteer with IHM's Issaquah Valley Trolley is no small undertaking. Crew members in particular (those trained to drive our trolley) need to be dedicated enough to complete five-plus hours of classroom training, learn the history, and take many more hours of "driver's ed." It's not a commitment any of them can take lightly, but the reward is an absurd amount of fun. Congratulations and thank you to all our 2026 trolley season volunteers, including: Instructors an

Volunteer Jake O. entertains a group of trolley riders in his role as conductor. Jake O. has been volunteeering with the Issaquah History Museums since 2012, serving as a trolley conductor, operator, and Board member. During our 2026 trolley season alone, Jake lent some 100+ hours of his time toward driving, conducting, and training a new crop of crew members. If you rode the trolley this season, you probably saw Jake—and we hope you had the chance to give him a hearty thanks

Jean smiles on the platform as a gaggle of trolley riders prepare to board on a 2019 Halloween trolley ride. IHM draws volunteers for all sorts of good reasons (community, professional growth, curiosity, you name it.) Jean C. came for the history—and met the Issaquah Valley Trolley along the way. A board member during the 2002 season when we acquired the #519 trolley car, Jean soon found herself immersed in the world of passionate trolley people—and found herself loving the c

Volunteer Doug K. stands at the controls of our 1925 trolley. Photo by Grace Reamer of the Issaquah Spotlight. This year, in addition to lots of operating and conducting, Doug K. ran our trolley “ground school”—the hours-long classroom training session all aspiring crew members are required to take before they get behind the wheel of the Issaquah Valley Trolley. Known as a jokester in addition to being a trolley aficionado, Doug’s been a key part of our trolley crew since 2

Charlie (right) appears with his wife, Jean, during a 2019 Halloween trolley event. If you rode the Issaquah Valley Trolley during our 2026 season—or ever—it’s Charlie, or “Chuck” (among his various names) who you can thank for making it go. Charlie’s father was a tool and die maker whose shop was in their home garage, so he was around machines for most of his childhood. When he got his first car in high school—a 1937 Ford coupe that was then already a couple decades old—it w

Ramya M. joined Issaquah History Museums as a museum docent in May 2025. Ramya M. has been volunteering with IHM since May 2025 as a museum docent and is beloved for her warm personality, sharp insights, and joyful interactions with our youngest museum visitors. We're so proud to know her—and to congratulate her on being college-bound this fall! What's something that surprises (or surprised) you about IHM? Something that surprised me about IHM is the community here! There are

The Issaquah Depot's Freight Room is both a historical exhibit and a rental space. It's taken a few knocks over the years, and its wood paneled walls at the north end—the backdrop for many a local event—were in desperate need of a touch-up. We're so grateful to volunteers Amy and Philip Diodato and David Sosby for the time they spent this past June sanding, priming, and painting our north wall. The Freight Room was stunning for our July 4 special exhibit! And while we're on t

Washington State, America250 Out of Many, One About As part of Washington State’s commemoration of America250, Out of Many, One (OMO) is an initiative by the Washington State Historical Society inviting museums to partner with their communities to identify and exhibit an object, image, or artwork from their collections that reflects the American experience. Items selected by participating organizations will be represented on the Society's interactive online map and be displa

Linda working in our Research Center at Gilman Town Hall By Heidi Kayler Volunteer Spotlight: Linda Smith Collections volunteer Linda Smith is one of those people who brings a little sunshine wherever she goes. A bona fide history aficionado with a penchant for purple, Linda learned about Issaquah History Museums when she attended a “Let’s Talk Local History” session and was compelled to learn more about volunteering. Linda joined IHM last February and has proven to be an in

Historic Fisher Meats sausage stuffer and 1950s dance memorabilia from Elaine Brockman donated to IHM, enriching Issaquah’s cultural and entrepreneurial legacy.

From a simple playfield built by firefighters and miners to a premier park at the heart of the city, Issaquah’s Veterans' Memorial Field has been the center of the community for more than one hundred years. Stumps, rodeos, ballgames, and a mining magnate—it's a story that's both entertaining and vibrant!

Joyful parades, tough truths, and a new lens on Issaquah’s story—how America250 invites celebration and honest reflection alike.

Hosted annually by the Greater Issaquah Chamber of Commerce, the Community Awards banquet honors individuals and organizations whose service, dedication, and spirit strengthen the fabric of Issaquah. Now in its 45th year, the event serves as a celebration of our shared values—and a snapshot of the living history unfolding all around us.

Discover how Issaquah History Museums is creating engaging, inclusive experiences for families—through school nights, scavenger hunts, Junior Rangers, and more.

Shaped by waves of immigration and settlement, Issaquah’s immigration story is one of resilience, industry, and cultural blending. Immigrants and settlers began settlers amongst our valley's Native American communities as early as the 1860s, but the arrival of the railroad brought new influx residents and a transition to mining, boarding houses, saloons, and new merchants—attracting workers from various backgrounds.

A beloved Issaquah shop, The Country Mouse began as a holiday pop-up and became a key player in Gilman Village’s early success. Discover its rich story—and the stained glass mouse that still charms today.

Issaquah History Museums affirms our stance for inclusive histories.

In Issaquah’s rough-cut early years, workers’ hard-earned wages went to whiskey, but they didn't give the "drink" when Prohibition arrived.

Dear Friends of Issaquah History Museums, As we anticipate the swing from shorter to longer days, we have been reflecting on a truly...

Through determination, the pioneers who ventured to Squak Valley in the 1860s, transformed the land from wilderness to homestead.