country.
“It’s the largest tourist
“People told us they didn’t
attraction in Pacific County. We
have the only visitors’ center
think the museum would last
open year-round. We have peo-
more than five years. We’ve
ple here all the time and we’re
proudly proven them wrong.
really proud of that. We’re
We’re pretty proud of that,”
bringing a lot of people to
Jerry said.
The museum opened in 2002 Pacific County,” Jerry said.
Earlier this year, Jerry spoke
with 21 vehicles. Since then,
the museum has expanded to 62 at the Carriage Association of
America’s International Car-
vehicles.
riage Symposium that was held
“It’s grown to be so much
in Washington D.C. He was
bigger than what it first was,”
one of 10 featured speakers.
Laurie said. “When we first
“We’re known for our col-
came in, we saw this little per-
lection of horse drawn carriages
fect museum and we thought
and we’re also known for our
we could grow this place and
artifacts. 99% of this has been
that’s what’s happened. We are
donated because we’re a non-
so proud of what the museum
profit. We used
has become. I’m
to look for them
so inspired that
but now we don’t
we’ve grown it
Northwest
have to because
to add so many
Carriage
people look for
vehicles.”
Museum
us,” Jerry said.
The museum is
314 Alder St.,
About 80%
open year-round
Raymond, Wash-
of the museum’s
from 10 a.m. to
ington
visitors don’t
4 p.m., except
live in Pacific
for Thanksgiv-
20th Anniversary
ing and Christ-
County. “In the
Party will take
mas. The Bow-
last year alone,
place from 10 a.m.
mans also offer
we had visi-
to 4 p.m. on Satur-
tors from every
museum tours
day. Admission is
state and 17 dif-
outside of normal
$5 per person
ferent countries.
business hours
www.nwcarriage
That’s just who
to those who are
museum.org
we know of —
interested.
maybe someone
“We have a
didn’t sign in,”
couple of paid
Jerry said.
staff. Laurie takes a small sal-
ary and all of my time is volun-
One of the museum’s new-
est additions, started by Lau-
teer time. We do it truly out of
rie in 2021, is a discount pro-
passion,” Jerry said.
gram that is offered through a
Jerry finds joy in caring for
collaboration with other local
the carriages and sharing his
knowledge, while Laurie’s pas- businesses.
sion is connecting with the
“We were worried about
museum’s visitors.
local businesses not making it
“I can talk about carriages
so Laurie created a shop and
for as long as you want. A lot
save program. If you’re a mem-
ber of the museum, you get a
of people say we only have an
card that you can show at par-
hour and once an hour comes,
ticipating businesses and they’ll
they say ‘no, keep going,’”
offer some sort of discount,”
Jerry said.
Jerry said. “We started with
“I love history but I didn’t
four businesses and now there’s
know to what degree until I
28.”
walked into the museum. Who
Looking forward, the Bow-
knew there were so many styles
mans hope to have an addi-
of carriages? It’s just fascinat-
ing. It wasn’t that long ago that tional celebration or two before
the year ends to honor the
that was the mode of transpor-
tation,” Laurie added.
museum and the community.
The museum, and the Bow-
“We love the museum and we
mans, has been recognized
take it very seriously,” Laurie
and honored throughout the
said.
Continued from Page 8
A line of carriages sits at the Northwest Carriage Museum in Raymond.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2022 // 9