Washington State Museum Day
August 8, 2026
Museums across the state will offer free or discounted admission to promote local history
Museums around the state are encouraged to participate in Washington Museum Day, August 8, 2026. Co-sponsored by the Washington Museum Association and the Washington State Historical Society, this day is designed to engage communities in history, arts, and cultural experiences. We hope that museums across the state will open their doors on August 8 and offer free or reduced admissions and enriching cultural experiences for everyone.
Participating organizations will receive:
- Listings on the Washington Museum Association and Washington State America’s 250th websites as a participating “Museum Day” organization
- A media kit with press release and social media templates
- Guides and ideas for planning a successful Washington Museum Day event
Other Ways To Participate
Out of Many, One
Out of Many, One is an initiative 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 our interactive online map and be displayed in their community throughout the summer of 2026.
Moments that Made Us
Moments That Made US is a FREE, customizable, print-on-demand panel exhibition exploring the ideals at the heart of the Declaration of Independence through moments in our national and regional history that have defined their meaning. The exhibit is modular so organizations large and small can select, adapt, and augment the exhibit panels to suit their own space and content needs.
Civic Learning Council K-5 Lesson Plans
The Civic Learning Council and the Washington State Council for the Social Studies, have partnered on FREE civic engagement lesson plans for K-5 students. The project encourages collaboration between museums and schools to examine national and local symbols representing democratic ideas, values, and the history of a community.
League of Women Voters Project
The League of Women Voters for Seattle King County has developed a FREE interactive civics experience for middle and high school students to inform and engage them in our democracy. Called “Civics and You! Energizing Young Voters In Washington” the modules can easily be adapted for use by other groups such as museums, community colleges or cities.
Become a Partner
Has your organization signed up to be an America’s 250th partner in Washington State? Local partners are key to ensuring all Washingtonians are able to participate in the 250th and any non-profit organization can participate.
