Do You get What You Pay For?

Saturday was a Free Museum Day.   It was a perfect day for a museum visit in my book.... far to rainy to spend outdoors.  So much so that I didn't get any outdoor pictures. You know the kind of day..... dreary, dreary, dreary! (Pictures are from the internet to give you a flavor of the Museum)

So off we went to visit the Museum of Art and Culture.

 

Spokane is a city with a population of around 750,000 people.  Not huge but still has some of the bigger city amenities such as a Museum and a Children's Museum.  With my years as a foster parent I have actually spent more time at the Children's Museum. 

Unfortunately, the Museum was in the process of changing exhibits so one of the major exhibit space was in the process of redesign and not able to be visited.

We  did visit an exhibit of Modern Design and Spokane Architecture.  This would not have been an exhibit I would have chosen to attend (I am much more interested in Pioneer History) but I did enjoy recognizing many of the sights of Spokane and learn more about the designs. Spokane’s mid-century architects changed the face of the city and received national recognition for their efforts.

Time can't be spent in the Northwest without becoming acquainted with Native American History.   This museum has a massive amount of Native American  artifacts from local tribes available so this was but a tip of the iceberg of the stories to be told.      

Probably the highlight for me was the Campbell House.

The Campbell House was designed by Kirtland Cutter and Karl Malmgren and was built in 1898 for Amasa B. Campbell, his wife Grace, and their daughter Helen. The house was later restored to serve as a historic home that operates in conjunction with the Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture.

Campbell made a fortune in mining exploration and operations in the Coeur d’Alene mining region northeast of Spokane. He partnered with John Finch, his neighbor second house west. Helen Campbell gave the Campbell House to the Eastern Washington State Historical Society and the Cheney Cowles Museum in the 1920s.

It tells the story of life in the Campbell House in early Spokane History from the standpoint of those who lived in the house and the servants who ran the house.   

I generally like the small town museums with the local stories told by local people rather than curators. But I must say the Campbell House tour was well worth the time for a visit.

We toured the Campbell House the day after I climbed the mountain.  I had great difficulty climbing up and down the three flights of stairs.  Boy getting this old isn't for Sissies!! 

The Free Museum Day was sponsored by Smithsonian Museum Magazine and is a yearly event.

Where will you be next year?