Rockford Area Museum

Rockford is a town of about 500 people in the grass and wheat country of southeastern Spokane County, roughly 20 miles from Spokane Valley along Highway 27. The Rockford Area Museum & Historical Society keeps the story of the town and the families who settled it, and its Pioneer Museum sits on South First Street, right next to the Harvest Moon restaurant.

This is a small community museum, and that is its charm. Much of what you see was used by the families who built this town, so the stories are local and specific, and it makes a good reason to slow down on a summer drive through the southern edge of the county.

What You’ll See

  • The Pioneer Museum: a two story building from 1894, which the town describes as the oldest business building still open for public use. Inside are collections of items local families used in the early days.
  • Military displays: uniforms, memorabilia and information about the service of people who grew up in or moved to the Rockford area. These items were moved into the Pioneer Museum from the old Military Museum, a log cabin built in 1923 and 1924 as Edward Leehan American Legion Post 165.
  • The Farm Museum: built in 1990 by the Rockford Lions Club on the SE Spokane County Fair grounds next to Rockford Park, it holds a collection of farming and ranching equipment.
  • Research files: family files and family group sheets, photo and newspaper archives, obituaries, and graduation pictures from Rockford and Freeman high schools.

The Story Behind It

Rockford was first settled in 1878 by D.C. Farnsworth and took its name from a rocky ford on Rock Creek. A post office opened in 1880, the Oregon Railroad and Navigation Company brought the railroad in 1889, and the town incorporated a year later in 1890.

The historical society was organized in August 1983 by local residents who wanted to preserve that history for future generations, and its first meeting was held that October in the banquet room of the Harvest Moon Café. Its stated purpose is simple: to “collect and preserve the history of the Rockford Area.” The society also sells a town history book, compiled by Ardis Dashiell, that covers early settlers and local families.

Tips for Your Visit

  • The Pioneer Museum is open seasonally, from Memorial Day weekend through the SE Spokane County Fair in September, on a limited weekly schedule; check the society’s website before you go.
  • The Farm Museum opens during the SE Spokane County Fair in late September, which makes fair weekend a good time to see both museums.
  • Outside the summer season, visits are by appointment; call the society to arrange one.
  • If you are tracing family roots in the area, ask about the society’s family files and photo archives.

Plan Your Visit

Address: 10 S First St, Rockford, WA 99030
Phone: 509.499.4780
Website: rockfordwahistoricalsociety.com
Hours and admission: Check the museum website for current days, hours, and admission before you visit.
Directions: View on Google Maps