BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Washington State Historical Society - ECPv6.17.0//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://america250wa.org X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Washington State Historical Society REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/Los_Angeles BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0800 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:PDT DTSTART:20250309T100000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0800 TZNAME:PST DTSTART:20251102T090000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0800 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:PDT DTSTART:20260308T100000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0800 TZNAME:PST DTSTART:20261101T090000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0800 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:PDT DTSTART:20270314T100000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0800 TZNAME:PST DTSTART:20271107T090000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:UTC BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+0000 TZOFFSETTO:+0000 TZNAME:UTC DTSTART:20250101T000000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260101 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20270101 DTSTAMP:20260320T155226Z CREATED:20260320T153838Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260320T155226Z UID:10000104-1767225600-1798761599@america250wa.org SUMMARY:Moses Lake Museum & Art Center (Out of Many\, One display) DESCRIPTION:Potato Picker Belt \nIn the early and mid-20th century\, Grant County farmers relied on potato picker belts during harvest. Before mechanized harvesting became common in the 1960s\, potatoes were dug and collected entirely by hand. Workers wore these belts\, which held extra burlap sacks on hooks along the sides. As they filled each sack\, dragging it between their legs until it reached about 60 pounds\, then they would grab another from the belt and continue the process. This system allowed farmworkers to keep moving efficiently across the fields\, long before machines transformed the harvest. \nHow it represents the community’s American experience: \nThe potato picker belt symbolizes the physical labor that is behind much of American agricultural success. It highlights the essential\, hands-on work required to feed the nation. The belt represents the diversity of the American workforce and how new Americans have long contributed to economic survival and growth\, often under grueling conditions. Potatoes were central to Grant County’s transformation from arid land to an agricultural powerhouse. After irrigation from the Columbia Basin Project began in 1948\, potatoes became a leading crop\, driving economic growth\, attracting settlers\, and creating jobs in farming and processing. Today\, Grant County produces more potatoes per acre than any other U.S. County\, making them vital to the region’s identity and economy. \n  \nOn display at the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center\, Monday–Friday\, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. & Saturdays\, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. January–December 2026. URL:https://america250wa.org/event/moses-lake-museum-art-center-out-of-many-one-display/ LOCATION:City of Moses Lake Museum & Art Center\, 401 South Balsam Street\, Moses Lake\, WA\, 98837\, United States CATEGORIES:Art, History, or Cultural Exhibit ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://america250wa.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Moses-Lake_Potato-Picker-Belt-1.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="City of Moses Lake Museum &%3B Art Center":MAILTO:museum@cityofml.com GEO:47.1309052;-119.2739647 X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=City of Moses Lake Museum & Art Center 401 South Balsam Street Moses Lake WA 98837 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=401 South Balsam Street:geo:-119.2739647,47.1309052 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260515 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260905 DTSTAMP:20260319T175115Z CREATED:20260110T021040Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260319T175115Z UID:10000051-1778803200-1788566399@america250wa.org SUMMARY:Faces of 250: Our Community in Portraits and Words DESCRIPTION:This exhibit at the City of Moses Lake Museum & Art Center showcases a striking collection of studio portraits done at Hilderbrand’s Photography Studio from the 1950s to 70s\, capturing the style\, optimism\, and evolving identity of mid-century America. Each photograph offers a window into the era’s fashion\, hairstyles\, and cultural values\, while highlighting the artistry of studio photography during a time when formal portraits were both a personal keepsake and a social statement. The exhibit invites viewers to reflect on how people chose to present themselves—and how those choices echo across generations \nThe individuals in these photographs lived in Moses Lake during a time of remarkable growth and transformation. The town was bustling with new industries\, expanding neighborhoods\, and fresh opportunities. Each person featured here made their way to Hilderbrand’s studio to sit for a portrait\, perhaps for a passport\, to commemorate a special occasion\, to capture their children’s early years\, or to send a keepsake to someone far away. After their session\, they might have grabbed a bite at Elmer’s Cafe or shopped in the aisles at Dietzen’s Thriftway before returning to their farms\, homes\, or offices to get on with the work of building a town. In these portraits\, we glimpse a quiet\, intimate moment—faces from the past meeting our gaze\, inviting us to learn their stories and understand the world they once knew. URL:https://america250wa.org/event/faces-of-250-our-community-in-portraits-and-words/ LOCATION:City of Moses Lake Museum & Art Center\, 401 South Balsam Street\, Moses Lake\, WA\, 98837\, United States CATEGORIES:Historical Program ORGANIZER;CN="City of Moses Lake Museum &%3B Art Center":MAILTO:museum@cityofml.com GEO:47.1309052;-119.2739647 X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=City of Moses Lake Museum & Art Center 401 South Balsam Street Moses Lake WA 98837 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=401 South Balsam Street:geo:-119.2739647,47.1309052 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260723T180000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260723T190000 DTSTAMP:20260117T041258Z CREATED:20260117T041258Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260117T041258Z UID:10000056-1784829600-1784833200@america250wa.org SUMMARY:Caring for Family Photographs DESCRIPTION:Join Museum Curator Ann Schempp to learn how to care for your photographs with proper storage and marking methods to make these\nmemories last generations. URL:https://america250wa.org/event/caring-for-family-photographs/ LOCATION:City of Moses Lake Museum & Art Center\, 401 South Balsam Street\, Moses Lake\, WA\, 98837\, United States CATEGORIES:Educational Program ORGANIZER;CN="City of Moses Lake Museum &%3B Art Center":MAILTO:museum@cityofml.com GEO:47.1309052;-119.2739647 X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=City of Moses Lake Museum & Art Center 401 South Balsam Street Moses Lake WA 98837 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=401 South Balsam Street:geo:-119.2739647,47.1309052 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260730T180000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260730T190000 DTSTAMP:20260123T225340Z CREATED:20260123T225340Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260123T225340Z UID:10000065-1785434400-1785438000@america250wa.org SUMMARY:Victory Village and the War Effort: Moses Lake’s Hidden History DESCRIPTION:In this presentation\, learn about Victory Village\, a WWII-era housing project in Moses Lake\, built for military and civilian workers. Though temporary\, it fostered a strong community and later became McCosh Park\, now a central gathering place for the city. Presented by Cultural Services Superintendent Dollie Boyd. URL:https://america250wa.org/event/victory-village-and-the-war-effort-moses-lakes-hidden-history/ LOCATION:City of Moses Lake Museum & Art Center\, 401 South Balsam Street\, Moses Lake\, WA\, 98837\, United States CATEGORIES:Lecture or Talk ORGANIZER;CN="City of Moses Lake Museum &%3B Art Center":MAILTO:museum@cityofml.com GEO:47.1309052;-119.2739647 X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=City of Moses Lake Museum & Art Center 401 South Balsam Street Moses Lake WA 98837 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=401 South Balsam Street:geo:-119.2739647,47.1309052 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260805T140000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260805T150000 DTSTAMP:20260123T225302Z CREATED:20260123T225302Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260123T225302Z UID:10000064-1785938400-1785942000@america250wa.org SUMMARY:Caring for Family Photographs DESCRIPTION:Join Museum Curator Ann Schempp to learn how to care for your photographs with proper storage and marking methods to make these memories last generations. URL:https://america250wa.org/event/caring-for-family-photographs-2/ LOCATION:City of Moses Lake Museum & Art Center\, 401 South Balsam Street\, Moses Lake\, WA\, 98837\, United States CATEGORIES:Lecture or Talk ORGANIZER;CN="City of Moses Lake Museum &%3B Art Center":MAILTO:museum@cityofml.com GEO:47.1309052;-119.2739647 X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=City of Moses Lake Museum & Art Center 401 South Balsam Street Moses Lake WA 98837 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=401 South Balsam Street:geo:-119.2739647,47.1309052 END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR