For the Love of Northern State
Join us on June 6th and 7th at the Sedro-Woolley Museum as we remember and celebrate the profound impact of Northern State Hospital on our community, honoring the many lives intertwined with its history.
Friday, June 6th at 6:30 PM for a special presentation with NSH historian John Horne as he explores the full history of the Northern State Hospital Cemetery and shares the restoration plans to honor the people buried at this historic site.
Saturday, June 7th – “The Headliners of Northern State” talks at 11:00 AM & 1:00 PM.
Step into the headlines of history with Northern State Hospital researcher Amy Muia as she explores the most talked-about stories from the hospital’s operation between 1910 and 1973. Discover how news coverage reflected changing treatments and philosophies, uncover scandals both real and rumored, learn about notable patients, staff, and hear surprising stories that offer a rare glimpse into life at one of Washington’s most mysterious institutions.
Research Library
The Museum Research Library is available by appointment, Tuesdays and Thursdays, for research on Central Skagit County history. Many items are available to browse, including books, newspapers dating back to the early 1900s, Sedro-Woolley school yearbooks, Northern State Hospital News, and assembled collections on the lumber industry and logging, churches, businesses, schools, family histories, the Loggerodeo, and many more research topics. Several guides to collections are available and more continue to be added to assist researchers.
Collections include photographs, archival records, correspondence, maps, atlases, books, and other items. To make a research appointment, submit a research question by clicking the research request button below. The Research Library depends on an all-volunteer staff, the requests will be answered as staff is available and depending on the extent of research required to answer the request.