Washington State Historical Society Research Center

Location: 315 Stadium Way, Tacoma, WA 98403
Tel: 253/798-5914
Website: www.washingtonhistory.org/wshs/research
Hours: Tuesday-Thursday; 12:30 pm to 4:30 pm, by appointment only

The WSHS Research Center provides public access to historical archives, special collections, digital collections and research library, while also serving as the principal repository for the Society's artifact collections, special collections and digital collections.

The special collection includes the following types of resources, relating to Washington state and regional history: photographs, archives and manuscripts, posters, maps, printed ephemera, books, and finding aids. The museum collection of artifacts presently numbers over 90,000 items, including artworks, clothing, archaeological artifacts, ethnographic materials, tools, equipment and furniture. The digital collection includes electronic records, documents, digital audio and video files, and digital photography and images.

The Research Center's library and collections are open to the general public, via the special collections reading room on the 3rd floor of the building, by appointment, Tuesday-Thursday from 12:30pm to 4:30pm. Additional opportunities for visitor research of WSHS Collections are available via our Online Collections and Finding Aids.