OK, so it wasn’t a night at the museum, but a day. During our most recent trip to Leavenworth we made a fun visit to the Upper Valley Museum, just a few blocks from downtown Leavenworth.
The Upper Valley Museum is located in the River Haus at Barn Beach Reserve. It sits majestically on a small bluff overlooking the Wenatchee River. The large wrap around porch is a great place to sit and take in the amazing views of the Stuart Range.
Stepping inside the River Haus is stepping back in time. It’s not hard to imagine the wonderful parties and celebrations that this 9500 sq. ft. home has hosted over its 107 year history. Founders of the Lamb-Davis Sawmill built the craftsman bungalow. An incredible fireplace constructed from native river rock dominates the main area.
On the day we visited we had the good fortune to meet Museum Coordinator Ann Ostella. She graciously gave us a tour of the museum, home to art exhibits, historical displays and community events. The Museum celebrates and promotes the heritage of the Upper Valley. Historical displays we saw fulfill both of these objectives. Especially dramatic is the story of the Wellington Train Disaster. 2010 marks the 100th anniversary of the worst avalanche train tragedy in North America.
Upper Valley Museum is like two sides of a valuable coin. River Haus with its rich heritage celebrates and preserves the past. The brand-new Barn, also part of Barn Beach Reserve, is the site of Museum educational events. While we were there a group of school kids was arriving for one such event.
The Museum is fun and informative. Families will enjoy viewing historical displays encompassing pre-history, Native American tribal history, pioneer days and mining and railroad boomtown. There are also presentations of the development of Leavenworth’s Bavarian theme.
Our visit to the Museum was fun and informative, thanks to Ann. We stopped in the museum gift shop and picked up a couple of books about Leavenworth and its history. We’re looking forward to our next trip to Leavenworth and exploring more of the 8-acre Barn Beach Reserve.
