The Renton Historical Society has been directed by the city to move all artifacts out of the Renton History Museum, and the society is asking the community about its future.
Society treasurer Makenna O’Meara said on Jan. 7 that they met with a city representative who asked the society to move all of their artifacts out of the museum at 235 Mill Ave. S. in downtown Renton. They were given a deadline of July 15, she said.
“That’s kind of a whopper,” O’Meara said. “We do not have a facility to move the artifacts into yet.”
The society has partnered with Renton since it incorporated as a nonprofit in 1971, and have operated together as the Renton Historical Society and Museum, according to O’Meara. Together, they signed a museum management agreement in 2005, which lasted for 10 years and continued to guide their relationship until 2022.
“We are technically responsible for the artifacts and the city is technically responsible for the building,” O’Meara said.
O’Meara said they were communicating with the city about a new agreement, but there’s been changes on how the city can support third-party nonprofits like the historical society.
According to a press release from the historical society, the city has grown significantly throughout the course of the aforementioned relationship, and in that time has developed more clearly defined rules surrounding its ability to collaborate with third party organizations. Most noteworthy is the fact that the city cannot provide financial or logistical support to any outside organization, including nonprofits like the Renton Historical Society. As a result of this change of city policy, the Renton Historical Society now manages its own administrative, financial and fundraising efforts.
“Over the last six months we’ve been trying to repair the relationship the best we could and show the city we did want to partner in some capacity,” O’Meara said. “Unfortunately we weren’t able to turn that tide.”
Renton communications and engagement director Laura Pettitt said the forced move is due to planned renovations.
“The museum is currently in the process of undergoing renovations, and every item in the building is slated for removal, whether owned by the city or the Renton Historical Society or any other entity,” Pettitt said. “The museum building is owned, maintained and staffed by the City of Renton, while the Renton Historical Society is a separate nonprofit. After renovations, the city will reach out to several organizations to formalize agreements to feature exhibits at the museum.”
Renton Historical Society president Christopher Howell said he is thankful for the museum’s support over the last fifty years.
“We want to thank the Renton History Museum for decades of collaboration on preserving and showcasing Renton’s history. Renton is now home to two impactful historical organizations, both working independently toward a future that is strongly connected to the lessons of the past,” Howell said.
Public input
O’Meara said the society will have three public input sessions over the topic at the 100 Mill Ave. library. The first meeting will be at 2 p.m. Jan. 30, followed by meetings at 11 a.m. Feb. 2 and at 12 p.m. Feb. 4. While O’Meara said they will need to purchase property, they also have a $6 million endowment to use.
“I think it was started in the ‘80s right before the dot-bom bubble by the board with like $60,000 and it’s grown exponentially,” O’Meara said. “We can financially afford this. We just want the community to have some input on how the money is spent.”
O’Meara said because the endowment policy stipulates they must have the artifacts on exhibit to the public, they have decided to store the artifacts and make the artifacts accessible remotely through their website beginning in April.
There are about 4,200 square feet of artifacts, according to O’Meara, including wedding dresses, rings, a car, models, and old egg washer and tools. O’Meara said the society is thinking about using a house to display the artifacts in the future.
“We have something called ‘the little house’ in the museum and it’s like a set up of a sewing machine, a piano, dishes, sink,” O’Meara said. “Those are all artifacts that we will need to move. We’ve got our work cut out for us.”
Through the Doors Open legislation, which creates funds for public arts and culture, O’Meara said the Renton Historical Society was awarded $170,000 for public access over the course of three years from a program called 4Culture.
“Thanks to the recent passage of Doors Open legislation and continued Lodging Tax revenue, RHS is part of an inaugural round of historical levels of funding as a vital contributor to the social well-being and economic development of King County,” the historical society wrote in a press release.
“Free public access to Renton Historical Society’s artifacts represents inclusion, accessibility and a step toward a future where all Renton residents can see themselves reflected in the stories of the past. Renton’s artifacts have never been presented like this before, and we are thrilled to have the support of 4Culture as we develop this incredible opportunity,” the Renton Historical Society Director of Curation and Collection Leigh Gath said.
O’Meara said they are also looking for people to volunteer with the historical society and they are in need of more board members.
“We’re really trying to rebuild this organization despite the conflicts of the past,” O’Meara said. “We’re really trying to stand up for these Renton dollars and these Renton artifacts and make sure they are treated with the care they deserve and they can sustain into the future.”