Chehalis, WA | April, 27th 2024
While staying at Chehalis Thousand Trails we stopped by the Lewis County Museum in Washington State. We also were blessed by a visit from one of mama’s college friends and her 4 kids.
It was a short 20 minute drive from our campground through the beautiful countryside and into the historic town of Chehalis, Washington. The museum is located inside the historic Chehalis Railroad station. The kids got their first treat before we even left the parking lot when a Amtrack train went by on the adjoining railroad tracks. The younger kids could not decide if they wanted to be scared of the noise or excited by being that close to the train.
The kids were free (7 and under) and the adults were $5 each and the cost was well worth it.
The first section was full of artifacts from the local area. There was a gallery dedicated to the local native tribes and their culture. The kids enjoyed asking questions about one the exhibits in the gallery that showed a Native American fishing and historical communal long house.
Across the hallway, papa stopped by the historical archives and with the help of a staff member looked up some family history. Our family homesteaded in Mineral, Lewis County, Washington in about the 1880s. The boys’ great-grandmother moved back to the homestead when the town of Ladd, Wa was wiped out in 1919 by a landslide when she was about a year old.
The next gallery was by far the kids favorite. The museum was also the home to the Lewis County model train club. The kids spent enjoyed playing with the interactive wooden train set they had and watching the model train go around the tracks.
The final gallery had more artifacts, most notably an Iron Lung.
We finished the day off by stopping by Dairy Dan for lunch and ice cream. I think the fact that we did not slowdown to take any pictures says volumes about the food. There was lots of inside seating along with a drive-thru.