Discover Yakima Valley Museums, Culture and History
You do not have to know Yakima Valley's past to appreciate its present. Still, spending time at a museum or cultural center can add depth to your Valley visit. Across the region, museums, interpretive centers, and historic sites honor the hard-working settlers of the Yakima Valley, the proud history of the Yakama Nation, and the Valley's definitive agricultural heritage. Together, they provide engaging and flavorful perspectives on the Valley's past, present, and future.
Museums & History
Yakima Valley Museum
2105 Tieton Drive • Yakima, WA 98902 • 509-248-0747
Explore two floors devoted to the natural and cultural history of South Central Washington, including the largest collection of wooden wagons west of the Mississippi. Exhibits cover the Yakima Valley fruit industry, horse-drawn vehicles, Indian art & artifacts, natural history, Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas, and special exhibitions.
The museum also includes a gift and book shop, research library, and an operating 1930's Art Deco Soda Fountain. Sunset Magazine readers recently voted the Museum's Soda Fountain one of the West Coast's Top Ten Old Fashioned Soda Fountains.
Central Washington Ag Museum
4508 Main Street • Union Gap, WA 98903 • 509-457-8735
The Central Washington Agricultural Museum showcases Washington State's agricultural heritage and is the largest museum of its kind in the Pacific Northwest. Each June, Old Town Days features the power and emotion of Washington's largest Civil War reenactment. In August, the Pioneer Power Show brings the power of antique farm equipment to life.
Northern Pacific Railway Museum
10 Asotin Avenue • Toppenish, WA 98948 • 509-865-1911
This museum includes a gift shop and a restored telegraph office. Railroad Park sits next door, offering a place for a picnic. The Northern Pacific Railway Museum welcomes the public from May through mid-October, Tuesday through Saturday from 10am - 4pm, as well as during special events such as Toy Train Christmas. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children 12 and under.
Yakama Nation Cultural Museum
100 Spiel-yi Loop • Toppenish, WA 98948 • 509-865-2800
The Yakama Nation Cultural Center is the best place to explore the important cultural influence of the Yakama Nation. Open daily, the facility brings together the Yakama Nation Museum, Cultural Center Gift Shop, the Heritage Inn Restaurant, the Heritage Theater, and the Yakama Nation Library.
Yakima Electric Railway Museum
418 S 3rd Avenue • Yakima, WA 98902 • 509-249-5962
Housed in the former Yakima Valley Transportation Co. 1910 shop facility, the museum offers vintage electric trolley rides between Selah and Yakima. Visitors can also see the original powerhouse and electric rail equipment.
Yakima Area Arboretum
1401 Arboretum Drive • Yakima, WA 98901 • 509-248-0747
This unique "tree museum" features native and exotic plants gathered from around the world. It is home to one of the regions few Japanese Gardens. The Jewett Interpretive Center provides space for small meetings, along with a gift shop and library.
American Hop Museum
22 S B Street • Toppenish, WA 98948 • 509-865-4677
Discover the rich history of the Yakima Valley hop industry, which goes back as far as the 1800s. Murals, displays, photos, implements, and a colonial brewery exhibit tell the story. A gift shop is also available on site.
McAllister Museum of Aviation
2008 S 16th Avenue • Yakima, WA 98903 • 509-457-4933
Brothers Charlie and Alister McAllister opened the site as a flight school in 1926. It became one of the longest running flight schools in the Northwest. Following Charlie's death at age 95, the school became the museum it is today. The museum is located at the East end of the Yakima Airport at 2008 South 16th Avenue.
Fort Simcoe State Park
5150 Fort Simcoe Road • White Swan, WA 98952 • 509-874-2372
Fort Simcoe State Park was established in 1856 as a consequence of hostilities between the Natives and the white men. During the mid 1800s, the fort housed infantry assigned to watch over the area. It was constructed on an important tribal gathering place on the Yakama Nation Reservation and later served as a school for the Yakama Nation.
Visitors may explore the grounds and officers' quarters, furnished in historical likeness of their original state.
Ahtanum Mission
17740 Ahtanum Road • Yakima, WA 98903 • 509-966-0865
Recognized as an important historical landmark, Ahtanum Mission was built in the early 1850's. Chief Kamiakin asked a Catholic Priest in Walla Walla to come and teach his tribe. Following Kamiakin's request, two Catholic Fathers arrived and built St. Joseph's Mission on the Ahtanum Creek.
Benton County Historical Museum - Prosser
1000 Paterson Road • Prosser, WA 99350 • 509-786-3842
Prosser's Benton County Historical Museum is a non-profit historical museum in Prosser Washington. Founded in 1968, it works to preserve the history of Prosser and the surrounding area. Five rooms contain items to explore, including ancient artifacts, photos, books, dresses, tools, and many other pieces from the area's past.
Olde Yakima Letterpress Museum
4508 Main Street • Union Gap, WA 98903 • 206-719-4979
Visit a hands-on working 1900's letterpress shop preserving an ancient art for the next generation. The museum is located within the Central WA Ag Museum in Union Gap.
Sunnyside Historical Museum
704 S 4th Street • Sunnyside, WA 98944 • 509-837-6010
This history museum is dedicated to preserving the history of Sunnyside and the stories of its citizens.
Yakima Valley Museums and Cultural Related Businesses
American Hop Museum
22 S. B Street
Toppenish, WA 98948
509-865-4677
Central Washington Agricultural Museum
4508 Main Street
Union Gap, WA 98903
509-457-8735
McAllister Museum of Aviation
2008 South 16th Avenue
Yakima, WA 98908
509-457-4933
Northern Pacific Railway Museum
10 Asotin Avenue
Toppenish, WA 98948
509-865-1911
Yakama Nation Cultural Center
100 Spiel-yi Loop (Hwy 97 & Buster Road)
Toppenish, WA 98948
509-865-2800
Yakima Area Arboretum
1401 Arboretum Drive
Yakima, WA 98901
509-248-7337
Yakima Valley Museum
2105 Tieton Drive
Yakima, WA 98902
509-248-0747
Yakima Valley Trolleys
P.O. Box 796
Yakima, WA 98907
509-249-5962