Aberdeen museums to roll out 'America 250' passport; ribbon-cutting set for May 7

Nancy Kyle, representing the Peace Harbor Museum Association, told the Aberdeen City Council on Wednesday that the association will distribute an "America 250" passport produced with a Humanities Washington grant and sold at county museums for $3 apiece.

"It will be sold at all the museums in the county, for $3 apiece," Kyle said, describing a parallel project in which the museum will ask the public to vote on one of five artifacts to highlight local history. She listed the five candidates — a union-button three-dimensional piece, an original architect's drawing of the Morte Hotel, a portrait of a local civic leader, a painting by Elsie Weiner called "The Pink Door," and a photograph of loggers on springboards — and said the museums aim to display the selected item by June and certainly before July 4.

A resident who addressed the council invited members to a ribbon-cutting planned for noon on May 7 in front of the Moore Building and said the project, created with Greater Grays Harbor and museum volunteers, is part of broader efforts to draw attention to Aberdeen's history. "Aberdeen is rising again," the resident said. The resident also noted student involvement from Irving High School and encouraged council members to attend.

Kyle said the museum will collect public votes over the next month on the five artifacts and will combine select objects into a larger collage if the community chooses that option. The council heard the announcements during the public-comment portion of the March 25 meeting and offered thanks for the outreach. The museum passport and vote are intended to broaden public awareness of Aberdeen history and to engage residents ahead of summer events.