The White River Valley Museum

The museum has four temporary exhibits each year in addition to permanent displays. The exhibits invite you to wander through the history of the area pioneers called the White River Valley. Today the cities of Auburn, Kent, Algona and Pacific make up the area.

Beautifully crafted displays are layered with oral history quotes, historic photographs and hundreds of artifacts. Life-like settings invite you to get involved – climb aboard a caboose from 1924 or explore a settler's cabin.

The permanent exhibit “Auburn Depot, 1924” brings you back in time to the 1920s with a Northern Pacific Railway depot and caboose. Imagine warming up near the pot-bellied stove and overhearing the telegraph operator sending messages. Inside the caboose you can check out the conductor’s work area and play checkers. You can even pose with the conductor for a photo!

The White River Valley Museum is a partnership with the City of Auburn and combines history and culture to create an exciting and educational experience for visitors. Museum collections focus on local Puget Sound history, Northwest Indian culture, Japanese immigration and the Northern Pacific Railroad.

The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday and is located at 918 H St. SE in Auburn. Regular hours are noon – 4 p.m. Admission is free on Wednesdays.

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