Neary-Sighted

It's taken so many years .. but now the Lakewood Historical Society has chosen the location for its permanent museum. The site is a historic airplane hangar on the grounds of Clover Park Technical College.

The museum will highlight all aspects of Lakewood history, from the story of Chief Leschi to more modern developments. What may be most exciting in the long run is that the museum will also be uniquely positioned to highlight a then-world-famous institution that was located on these same grounds nearly 100 years ago, the Tacoma Speedway. You can still see the outline of the speedway in aerial views of Clover Park Tech's campus. Just imagine how modern museum technology will allow us to interpret the exciting history of this racetrack .. not to mention all the other aspects of Lakewood history.

As a board member who has had a museum as a goal for a long time, I couldn't be more thrilled. The space will offer an enormous amount of flexibility. And it highlights two of our more exciting periods: the racetrack and the airfield. Here is the release from the Lakewood Historical Society:

LAKEWOOD, WA - In only 10 years, the Lakewood Historical Society has managed to collect a wealth of material, organize a storefront museum in the Lakewood Colonial Center and set the wheels in motion to create a permanent home in the historic Mueller-Harkins Hangar on the Clover Park Technical College campus.

Museum Society President Becky Huber said the society's board of directors reviewed a number of potential sites and decided the former airport hangar would suit its needs best.

Built in 1928-29, the hangar was part of what was then the Tacoma Airport. More recently, Tacoma architectural planning firm BCRA studied eight potential sites and recommended the hangar as the best. The hangar features enough space to display Lakewood history as well as host Society and community activities. It's a location that has easy access for visitors and the society expects a long-term lease can be negotiated. Additionally, the site offers the unique advantage of partnering with the college.

Huber and museum task force chair Glen Speith met in April with CPTC President Dr. John Walstrum and Tony Robinson, college vice president for operations and facilities, and the college's board of trustees subsequently approved the concept.

Planning for developing this major new facility will now get under way, as will public relations and fund-raising projects, Huber said.
Photos:

Right, The Mueller Harkins hangar building as it appears today from Steilacoom Boulevard in Lakewood on the Clover Park Technical College campus. Photo by Dave Sclair

Above: The numerous airplanes in front of the hangar indicates the extent of business at the airport in Lakewood years ago. Photo is from the Tacoma Public Library collection

I should note, there have been other buildings proposed for the museum. We all have a soft spot for the Colonial Center, but it is under private ownership and plans have not come together yet for the reuse that has been discussed for many, many, many years. It's certainly a great home for the current museum.

A pioneer structure on 112th, probably Lakewood's oldest home, was also under consideration. The Boatman house would be the ideal house museum; but it's a pioneer home and could not fit a lot of displays. I know from my work at Fort Steilacoom, where we have nothing to work with but cottages, that it helps to have extra space.

If you look at the current photo of the hangar, you can see there will be a lot of work to do in the future. But it's thrilling that we have taken a giant step to what will be a future Lakewood institution.

There's probably more to say, but in the meantime, here are some interesting photos of the hangar, airfield and speedway from the joint history project of the wonderful Tacoma Public Library and The News Tribune:

Speedway:
http://search.tacomapubliclibrary.org/southsound/southsound.asp?now=04/JUL/06
And you will recognize this from the Lakewood history book. It's probably my favorite photo in the book:
http://search.tacomapubliclibrary.org/southsound/southsound.asp?now=02/SEP/00
Airfield:
http://search.tacomapubliclibrary.org/southsound/southsound.asp?now=26/JUL/02
http://search.tacomapubliclibrary.org/southsound/southsound.asp?now=13/JUL/05
http://search.tacomapubliclibrary.org/southsound/southsound.asp?now=05/APR/03

These are two photos I had never seen before, and yes, I really wish Steve Dunkelberger and I had seen these to consider them for the Lakewood history book:
http://search.tacomapubliclibrary.org/southsound/southsound.asp?now=01/MAR/05
http://search.tacomapubliclibrary.org/southsound/southsound.asp?now=13/JUN/03
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