May is Museum Month on Washington’s Evergreen Coast, a time when history, art, culture, and coastal heritage take center stage. Across the scenic shoreline and small towns of Pacific County, museums open their doors to celebrate the stories and people that shaped this one-of-a-kind region.
Whether you’re fascinated by Lewis and Clark’s final journey, or intrigued by our coastal history, the Evergreen Coast’s museums offer something for every traveler, history buff, and family explorer.
Why We Celebrate Museum Month in May
Museum Month aligns with International Museum Day, which is May 18th. On Washington’s Evergreen Coast, May also brings warmer days, spring visitors, and school field trips—making it the ideal time to discover (or rediscover) local museums through special programs, rotating exhibits, and family-friendly events.
Use this guide to plan your Museum Month itinerary and explore all 11 museums across the region.
Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center – Ilwaco, WA
Dramatically perched atop a cliff where the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean, the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center takes visitors inside one of the greatest exploration stories in American history. Through immersive exhibits, journals, original artifacts, and hands-on activities, you’ll retrace the final leg of the Corps of Discovery’s journey. The center also offers panoramic views, short trails, and nearby historic sites like the Cape Disappointment Lighthouse. It’s a blend of education, inspiration, and awe.
World Kite Museum – Long Beach, WA
A celebration of wind-powered artistry and cultural tradition, the World Kite Museum is a must-see in Long Beach. The vibrant collection showcases kites from more than 30 countries, along with historical and scientific exhibits on their use in war, sport, and play. Kids can build their own kites, while adults admire rare and intricate designs suspended in flight. During festival season, the museum comes alive with international kite fliers and events right outside on the beach.
Northwest Carriage Museum – Raymond, WA
With over 60 meticulously restored 19th-century carriages, buggies, wagons, and sleighs, this museum offers a rare and refined look at pre-automobile travel. Step into the lifestyle of early Americans—from opulent Victorian coaches to practical frontier rigs. Interactive displays and period costumes let kids and adults imagine life on the road before paved highways and gas stations. It’s one of the most highly regarded carriage museums in the country, and a true gem for visitors of all ages.
Cranberry Museum – Long Beach, WA
Explore the tart and fascinating world of cranberry farming at this working research bog and museum. Exhibits take you through the history of cranberry cultivation in the Pacific Northwest, featuring antique equipment, harvesting techniques, and the evolution of this iconic coastal crop. Outside, you can stroll paths alongside actual bogs. Inside the gift shop, you’ll find cranberry wine, candies, sauces, bath products, and plenty of locally made delights that make for sweet souvenirs.
Shoalwater Bay Heritage Museum – Tokeland, WA
This small but powerful museum, located within the tribal center, highlights the enduring traditions of the Shoalwater Bay Tribe. Learn about their ancestral lands, language revitalization, fishing practices, and spiritual beliefs through displays crafted with care and authenticity. The museum fosters understanding of Indigenous resilience and connection to place. Visitors walk away with a deeper appreciation for the original stewards of the Evergreen Coast and their living legacy.
Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum – Ilwaco, WA
The Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum offers a rich, layered narrative of the Columbia-Pacific region. Its exhibits span from the Chinookan peoples and early explorers to the days of shipwrecks, canneries, railroads, and the rise of the fishing and logging industries. Don’t miss the full-size railcar, changing art exhibits, and walking tours that bring Ilwaco’s past to life. The museum also serves as a gathering place for cultural programming, lectures, and events throughout the year.
Pacific County Historical Society Museum – South Bend, WA
Tucked along the Willapa River, this inviting museum focuses on the heritage of Pacific County’s inland communities. Explore extensive collections of photographs, documents, tools, and household items that tell the story of the loggers, pioneers, and townsfolk who carved out life in the woods and on the water. It’s a cozy, research-friendly space ideal for those tracing family roots or learning how the county came to be what it is today.
Knappton Cove Heritage Center – Naselle, WA
Once a U.S. Quarantine Station built to screen ships for disease in the late 1800s, this fascinating site now serves as a living museum on public health and immigration. Situated right on the Columbia River, the historic wooden building houses medical equipment, photographs, and ship logs that offer a rare glimpse into an overlooked chapter of coastal history. Guided tours and storytelling events give deeper insight into life on the edge of civilization—and contagion.
Willapa Seaport Museum – Raymond, WA
Located along the Willapa River, this museum is packed with maritime memorabilia that brings Pacific County’s seafaring days back to life. From model ships and navigation tools to displays about shipbuilding, tugboats, and fishing fleets, the museum pays tribute to the working waterfront. A walk through the museum is a dive into the days when trade, travel, and survival were anchored to the tides.
Appelo Archives Center – Naselle, WA
More than a museum, the Appelo Archives Center is a community-driven heritage hub that celebrates the Scandinavian roots of the Naselle–Grays River Valley. It houses an impressive collection of family records, photos, and cultural artifacts related to Finnish and Swedish settlers. Visitors can browse rotating exhibits, research genealogy, or sip coffee in the on-site café while soaking in the region’s quiet, rural charm and rich immigrant stories.
Willapa Bay Interpretive Center – Nahcotta, WA
Surrounded by the natural beauty of the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge, this interpretive center explores the fragile and fascinating ecology of the bay. Exhibits focus on estuarine science, local fisheries, migratory birds, native plants, and the role of conservation in sustaining this coastal ecosystem. It’s an inspiring stop for nature lovers, birders, and curious minds who want to better understand the delicate balance between land, sea, and human activity.
Plan Your Museum Month Adventure
Washington’s Evergreen Coast is brimming with history, creativity, and community pride. Museum Month in May is the perfect excuse to explore scenic highways, discover small-town charm, and support cultural institutions that preserve the region’s identity.
Whether you stop at one museum or take a full coast-wide tour, you’ll leave with a deeper appreciation for the people, places, and stories that shaped the Pacific Northwest.
Start planning your Museum Month adventure at www.evergreencoastwa.com.
