Metal mammoth sculpture in the gallery at the Moses Lake Museum and Art Center

Moses Lake Museum and Art Center

Photo: Sean Flood via Google Maps

The Moses Lake Museum & Art Center, known as the MAC, is housed in the Moses Lake Civic Center at 401 S Balsam Street. It is a program of the city’s Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services Department, backed by its members and the nonprofit Friends of MAC, and its mission is to explore the human and natural history of the Columbia Basin while celebrating the work of regional artists.

That pairing is what makes the MAC worth a stop. In a single visit you can look at Native American artifacts and local history, walk through a gallery of art by people who live and work in the region, and stand under a giant metal mammoth. If you are passing through Moses Lake on I-90, it is an easy way to get a feel for the basin beyond the freeway exits.

What You’ll See

  • The Columbian mammoth. A giant metal sculpture of a Columbian mammoth skeleton by Jud Turner, an artist based in Eugene, Oregon. Turner built it largely from recycled material, much of it old farm equipment.
  • The Adam East Collection. Native American artifacts in a collection that carries the name of the original Adam East Museum.
  • Local history exhibits. Displays on the people and places of the Columbia Basin.
  • The fine art gallery. Changing shows of work by regional artists, plus an annual members’ exhibition.
  • The museum store. A shop to browse on your way out.

The Story Behind It

The MAC began in 1958 as the Adam East Museum. Today it operates as the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center inside the city’s Civic Center, pairing the history collections it grew up with and a fine art program focused on regional artists. In 2021 the Moses Lake City Council reallocated money to the museum to upgrade its exhibits and collections.

Teaching is part of the mission, too. The MAC offers classes in craft and fine art for all ages, with programs over the years in beading, basketry, weaving and natural dyeing, and it hosts monthly family activities and special programs open to all ages.

Tips for Your Visit

  • Traveling with kids? Look for the monthly family activities, and check the museum website for the current schedule.
  • If you like making things, browse the class list before your trip. The MAC offers craft and fine art classes for all ages.
  • The museum catalogs its holdings in an online collections database on its website, which is a good way to dig deeper before or after your visit.
  • Gallery shows change through the year, so a return visit often means new art on the walls.

Plan Your Visit

Address: 401 S Balsam St, Moses Lake, WA 98837
Phone: 509.764.3830
Website: cityofml.com
Hours and admission: Check the museum website for current days, hours, and admission before you visit.
Directions: View on Google Maps

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