A carved wooden grand staircase inside the Whatcom Museum

Whatcom Museum

Photo: Shan Fu via Google Maps

Whatcom Museum spreads across a small campus in downtown Bellingham, and its two public buildings could hardly be more different. Old City Hall, finished in stages starting in 1892, is a city landmark with Victorian cupolas and a central clock tower. Nearby, on Flora Street, the Lightcatcher shows off a translucent wall 37 feet high and 180 feet long.

Between them, the museum covers the art, nature and history of the Northwest, drawing on a collection of more than 30,000 objects. It is a rewarding stop whether you are into regional art, local history or simply looking for something to do with kids on a rainy Bellingham afternoon.

What You’ll See

  • Old City Hall: permanent history exhibits about the region, plus the Rotunda Room, used for public programs.
  • The John M. Edson Hall of Birds: a floor of mounted birds, with about 500 specimens on display, drawn from the museum’s founding collection.
  • People of the Sea and Cedar: a permanent exhibition at the Lightcatcher honoring the art, activism and enduring traditions of the Lummi Nation and Nooksack Indian Tribe.
  • Rotating art at the Lightcatcher: the 42,000 square foot building, designed by Jim Olson and built to LEED Silver standards, hosts changing art exhibitions.
  • The Family Interactive Gallery: a self guided art and creative play space for children inside the Lightcatcher.
  • The Photo Archives: housed in Old Fire Station No. 1, built in 1926 next to Old City Hall, with research access for the public. The holdings include more than 4,000 items from Northwest photographers Darius and Tabitha Kinsey.

The Story Behind It

Work on Old City Hall began in February 1892, designed by Alfred Lee, a self taught architect who combined plans from various catalogues. An economic depression left the upper floors unfinished until 1910. After the 1904 merger that created Bellingham, the building served as the new city’s hall until a larger one went up on Lottie Street in 1939. Rather than let it be torn down, a group of volunteers led by John M. Edson formed the Bellingham Public Museum Society that November, and the museum officially opened on January 23, 1941.

In 1962 a fire caused by faulty wiring tore through the top of the building. With the original blueprints lost, builders used photographs and sketches to recreate it, and the museum reopened in 1974. The Lightcatcher opened in 2009, giving the museum a modern home for art and family programs.

Tips for Your Visit

  • There is limited free parking for museum patrons at Old City Hall, 121 Prospect Street. Street parking downtown is metered except on Sundays, when it is free.
  • Both buildings have elevators that reach every floor, and a complimentary wheelchair is available to borrow on a first come, first served basis.
  • Bar Cicotti, inside the Lightcatcher, serves coffee, drinks and Italian style snacks.
  • Check the website for which exhibitions are in each building so you can plan your route between Old City Hall and the Lightcatcher.

Plan Your Visit

Address: 250 Flora St (Lightcatcher) and 121 Prospect St (Old City Hall), Bellingham, WA 98225
Phone: 360.778.8930
Website: whatcommuseum.org
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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