Join our team of volunteers who help us process archives, develop programming, and host events. Volunteer Form RVHS has collected, preserved, and shared the stories of Rainier Valley since 1891. Our volunteers are essential partners in this effort. First Name Last Name Email Availability 1 day a week 1 day a month Occasionally What are you interested in helping with? Archiving Events Office hours Special projects Tell us a little bit about yourself and your interests SUBMIT Thanks for your interest! We'll get back to you shortly.

Help us preserve and celebrate the history of the Rainier Valley. Be a part of our advocacy for local preservation. Become a Member With your support, we provide programs that explore diverse topics including cultural traditions, social activism, architectural history, and environmental stewardship. Your contributions also help us maintain our extensive digital and physical archives, many of which are housed at our Columbia City Office, ensuring public access to this valuable resource. Members enjoy these core benefits: Subscription to all RVHS publications. Presale access and reduced admission to tours, programs, lectures, and special events. Discounted image and document reproduction. 4 Hours of personalized research assistance. Together, we can preserve and celebrate the heritage of Rainier Valley!

We are interested in expanding our collection of photographs, artifacts, and documents. Please let us know if you have items you would be interested in donating. Grow Our Collection We are interested in expanding our collection of photographs, artifacts, and documents. Please let us know if you have items you would be interested in donating. All donation offers must be reviewed by our Collections Committee which meets monthly. While we are grateful for all offers, our Collections Policy requires that items accessioned into the collection have relevance to the history of the Rainier Valley. Cur rent priorities for collecting include: Items that reflect the wider Rainier Valley community, beyond Columbia City. Items that reflect cultural diversity and the post WWII era. If you'd like to discuss a collections donation, please email the collections committee at office@rainiervalleyhistory.org get in touch

Explore a curated compilation of articles penned by RVHS founder, Buzz Anderson, for the South District Journal. Days Gone By Explore a curated compilation of articles penned by RVHS founder, Buzz Anderson, for the South District Journal. 1 2 3

Watch and listen to our collection of interviews and videos. Oral Histories We have serval dozen oral histories in our collection. A portion of our catalog are available on our YouTube Channel. The full catalog is available to researchers by appointment. explore our library RVHS Video Play Video Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tumblr Copy Link Link Copied Now Playing 36:44 Play Video Oral History Series: Dale Leuthold Jr. Now Playing 29:14 Play Video Oral History Series: Jack Collier, Collier Gas Station (Now Stone House Cafe) Now Playing 01:43:42 Play Video Oral History Series: Alice Yasutake Submit Your Oral History Share your story with us! RVHS welcomes submissions of oral histories from individuals interested in preserving their experiences for future generations. To contribute to our library, fill out our contact form, and we'll reach out to you. contact us

Rainier Valley Historical Society has photographs of many historic homes and buildings in the Rainier Valley, particularly in and around Columbia City. We also have information about the general history of the neighborhood, which may also be helpful to you. Research Your House The Rainier Valley Historical Society has photographs of many historic homes and buildings in the Rainier Valley, particularly in and around Columbia City. We also have information about the general history of the neighborhood, which may also be helpful to you. Another place to look for historic photographs of your house is the Puget Sound Regional Archives , located at Bellevue Community College. Look under "King County Property Records," find your tax parcel # (it's all right there on the site), and e-mail or call them to see what they've got. They should have a photo of the house from 1937 (a county-wide photo survey was done that year by the WPA), plus information about when the house was built, etc. The archivists there can point you to more resources if you want to keep going. The Seattle Polk Directories are also helpful. A complete set of these directories — essentially the phone book, but they go back way before phones — is available at the Seattle Public Library's downtown site, and at the Seattle Municipal Archives . Many of these volumes also have reverse directories, so you can look up an address and find out what was there in any given year. The Seattle Municipal Archives also has a searchable online database of photographs, but they tend to focus on engineering projects and not residential buildings. If you are interested in restoring your old house, Historic Seattle has wonderful resources for researching architectural history and finding historically accurate building supplies and fixtures. List of Resources Puget Sound Regional Archives Seattle Public Library Seattle Municipal Archives Historic Seattle Need help with your project? RVHS is here to help! Schedule an appointment with our collections team or email your questions to office@rainiervalleyhistory.org . contact us

Step into the past with our captivating photo essays. Photo Essays The Rainier Valley Historical Society has curated captivating photo essays that illustrate the rich heritage and evolution of our culturally diverse neighborhood.

Help us preserve and celebrate the history of the Rainier Valley. Be a part of our advocacy for local preservation. Support RVHS Your gift helps preserve the stories, cultures, and histories that make Rainier Valley unique. Every donation supports our archives, exhibits, programs, and the creation of Rainier Valley Heritage Hall. Thank you for your support!

Meet our Board of Directors, Staff, and Volunteers who help run Rainier Valley Historical Society. Our Team Rainier Valley Historical Society is guided by our dedicated Board of Directors. Our board members are volunteers who bring expertise in finance, non-profit management, and historic preservation to our organization. They are passionately committed to advancing RVHS's mission and engaging others in the importance of preservation efforts. Karen O'Brien President Mary Charles Vice President Fundraising Committee Chair John DeFranco Treasurer Fundraising Committee Jody Zumwalt Secretary Fundraising Committee Tim Burdick Board Member Facilities Chair Rebecca Corpuz Board Member Membership Chair Laura Day Board Member David Eskenazi Board Member Founding Member Ryan Wadleigh Board Member Archives Committee Chair Katie McClure Executive Director Get Involved Passionate about preserving history and making a difference in your community? Join our dedicated team of volunteers! Fill out our volunteer interest form to get connected. Join the Team

Join RVHS for a variety of tours, lectures, and special events that showcase Rainier Valley's cultural heritage. Upcoming Events Atlantic Street Center's 25th Annual Juneteenth Celebration Thu, Jun 18 Rainier Beach Community Center Stop by our event booth to learn more about Juneteenth and Rainier Beach History. Please note the event is on June 18th. Learn more Mount Baker Summer Festival Sat, Jun 20 3299 Hunter Blvd S Kick off summer with this beloved neighborhood event! Learn more Hillman City - What's Good Block Party Sat, Aug 08 The Flour Box We'll be back at this neighborhood favorite festival! More details coming soon! Learn more Comet Lodge Cemetery Tour Sat, Oct 17 Comet Lodge Cemetary More details coming soon! Learn more 12th Annual Founder's Dinner Sat, Nov 07 St. Edward Catholic Church Save the date! More details coming soon. Learn more Become a Member Get exclusive early access to events, enjoy discounted rates, and support the preservation of Rainier Valley! join rvhs

The Columbia Motor Co. Building Press Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 15, 2025 Rainier Valley Historical Society Acquires Historic Building to Establish Permanent Community Museum Seattle, WA — Rainier Valley Historical Society (RVHS) is excited to announce the purchase of the historic Columbia Motor Co. building at 3806 S Ferdinand Street in Columbia City. This milestone marks the start of a permanent home for RVHS. After more than 130 years of collecting, preserving, and sharing the diverse history of Southeast Seattle, RVHS (previously Columbia Pioneers) will now create a dedicated museum space to host public programs and expand access to its archives and collections. “We are thrilled to plant roots in the neighborhood we’ve long served, and we are grateful to everyone who helped us reach this historic moment,” said Karen O’Brien, RVHS Board President. The building will house exhibits and host educational programs and cultural events that reflect the neighborhood’s history of immigration, migration, labor, activism, and resilience. RVHS is currently in the early stages of site preparation and stabilization, with renovation plans underway to transform the building into a welcoming community space. RVHS extends heartfelt thanks to the seller and the donor for their commitment to preserving local history, to our board and volunteers for their tireless dedication, and to the community members whose belief in this vision never wavered. Public meetings will be held later this year to gather community input for the building’s design and future use. To learn more or support this next chapter, visit rainiervalleyhistoricalsociety.org. Media Contact: Rainier Valley Historical Society office@rainiervalleyhistory.org 206-723-1663

Visit us during office hours on Fridays from 10 am to 3 pm or schedule an appointment. Visit Us Visit us during office public hours or schedule an appointment. Office Hours: Wednesday-Friday 1PM - 5PM Saturdays 10AM - 2PM Address Our Office 3710 S Ferdinand St Seattle, WA 98118 Mailing Address PO BOX 18143 Seattle, WA 98118 Contact (206) 723-1663 office@rainiervalleyhistory.org