Red Museum sign on the lawn at the Asotin County Museum, with a windmill and historic buildings behind

Asotin County Museum

Photo: Bryan Hermans via Google Maps

The Asotin County Museum sits on Filmore Street in Asotin, the small town along the Snake River in Washington’s far southeast corner. Run by the Asotin County Historical Society, it gathers the story of this river country in a former funeral parlor and in a cluster of historic outbuildings on the grounds around it.

It is the kind of local museum that rewards curiosity. Exhibits range from Native American heritage and pioneer artifacts to schoolhouses and sheepherding, and the museum describes many of its displays as hands on. If you are exploring the Lewis-Clark Valley, it is an easy and worthwhile stop.

What You’ll See

  • The main building: exhibits of Native American and pioneer artifacts and settler stories, set inside a building that began life as a funeral parlor in 1920.
  • The Pole Barn: home to a collection of branding irons that the museum bills as the biggest in the world.
  • A 1920s schoolhouse: fully restored, and part of the museum’s look at school days and settler life in the county.
  • The Pioneer House: a true pioneer home that was assembled on the grounds board by board.
  • Oddities worth hunting for: a 1950s telephone switchboard, a mammoth tusk and an old organ are among the pieces the museum points visitors toward.

The Story Behind It

The museum’s main building is a cement block structure built in 1920 by Henry J. Merchant Sr. for use as a funeral parlor. The Merchant family later donated it to become a museum, and in 1972 it became home to the Asotin County Historical Society.

The museum also works as a research center. Its archives hold records of early settlers, issues of the Asotin County Sentinel newspaper and burial ledgers, which makes it a useful stop for anyone tracing family roots in the area.

Tips for Your Visit

  • Call before you go. The museum says most tours are by appointment, so phone during business hours to set one up.
  • Open days are limited, so check the website for the current schedule before you make the drive.
  • Researching family history? You can dig through the genealogy archives yourself, or staff will do the research for a donation.
  • Pair your visit with a stroll at Chief Looking Glass Park, the town’s park on the Snake River waterfront, with walking paths, picnic shelters and a sandy shoreline.

Plan Your Visit

Address: 215 Filmore St, Asotin, WA 99402
Phone: 509.243.4659
Website: asotincountymuseum.org
Hours and admission: Check the museum website for current days, hours, and admission before you visit.
Directions: View on Google Maps