Poulsbo Historical Society

19010 Front Street NE in Historic Downtown Poulsbo
Open Daily, 10:00-4:00pm

The Poulsbo Maritime Museum officially opened on Sept. 12, 2015 and showcases the rich maritime history of Poulsbo and North Kitsap. Through imaginative exhibits and interactive displays, the new museum invites guests to explore the amazingly diverse history, from families traveling dock to dock to get to their farm products to market in Seattle, to home-porting of Alaska codfish fleets, to the tour ships and paddle boards of today. In opening this museum, Poulsbo Historical Society is taking the exciting step of partnering with the Visit Kitsap Peninsula and the Historic Downtown Poulsbo Association to incorporate a Visitors Center into the facility.

Nelson Park, 317 NW Lindvig Way in Poulsbo
Open Saturdays, 10:00-4:00pm

Built in the late 1800s by the Martinson family, this cabin was moved to its present location in 2006 to preserve this important historical landmark and to give residents and visitors the opportunity to experience the lifestyle of early Poulsbo pioneers. Tools, transportation, laundry – nearly every aspect of daily living is displayed to awaken the guest’s imagination to the life of early Poulsbo pioneers.

Small Group Events and Tour Options:
Martinson Cabin Museum and Poulsbo Historical Museum
The Poulsbo Historical Society offers “Poulsbo Pioneer” presentations for small groups (adults and/or children) in the historic Martinson Cabin at the junction of Viking Ave, and Lindvig Way in Nelson Park. The Martinson cabin museum provides the setting for a hands-on lesson exploring life in Washington State at the turn of the 20th century, with artifacts dating from the 1880s to 1930.

Participants will view the inside of the cabin, listen to stories of early Poulsbo, and take part in discovering the uses for a variety of early Poulsbo artifacts from the collection of the Poulsbo Historical Society.

We are available for group presentations during weekdays by appointment. Each session will last approximately 60-90 minutes depending on the age and interest of the participants. Please schedule your event at least one week before your arrival to avoid conflicts with other groups.

A small group rate of $10 is charged for groups of up to 10 participants. An additional fee of $1 per person for numbers over 10 and up to 20 is charged. The cabin is small and not able to accommodate groups of more than 24.

School Field Trip Opportunities

Martinson Cabin Museum and Poulsbo Historical Museum – Poulsbo
For your planning purposes, there are picnic and restroom facilities available in Nelson Park. Enter the park through the EHL Insurance drive way and turn right at the Nelson Park sign to the parking lot for bus drop-off (there is a circular driveway). Large school bus parking is best across the street at the Fish Park parking lot. The cabin is wheelchair accessible.

Girl Scout VisitClassroom tours of the Poulsbo Historical Museum at City Hall, 200 Moe St. are free during museum hours (Wed-Sat, 10:00-4:00pm). We can accommodate classes up to 24. Larger groups need to be divided into two sessions. Tours are free, however, donations of $20 per group help to keep the museum doors open.

Historic Walking Tours of downtown Poulsbo are also available for classroom tours. Each tour lasts approximately 1 hour. There is a $20 fee per class (up to 24) for a walking tour.

Poulsbo Walking Tours
Historic Walking Tours of downtown Poulsbo are available by appointment for groups of 2 or more. Each tour lasts approximately 1 hour. Participants see the sites of the mosquito fleet docks, the Mouse House, Orphans Home, the Poulsbo Fire, Young’s Poulsbo boat shop, other early businesses, and hear the stories attached to those sites.

Walking tours are $5/participant. If a family of from 4-10 wishes a tour, there is a $20 charge/family. Because of Poulsbo’s narrow sidewalks, groups of more than 10 will be divided into two sections
Reservations are required. Please schedule your walking tour 48 hours before your arrival so that we can notify our tour guides. Call the Historical Society at (360) 440.7354

The Society holds monthly morning membership meetings on the second Tuesday of each month (except for months in which there is an evening meeting) in the City Council Chambers on the ground floor of City Hall. Morning meetings begin at 9:30 and feature interesting speakers and presentations on some aspect of local history. Quarterly evening meetings are held as announced in the local paper. Usually at 7 p.m. in March, May, August and November. However, the months and days may vary depending on the program being presented. Announcements are posted in the local paper, and emails are sent to members. The public is welcome to attend any meetings of the society, and new members are always welcome.

Examples of past programs:
Past programs:

History of Ferry Service in North Kitsap presented by Dennis Johnson
Historian Rangvald Kvelstad – Poulsbo’s Mr. K. presented by Jeff Tolman
Poulsbo’s Boat Builders presented by Jim Shields with Judy Driscoll
Canoe Building — Past and Present — to be presented by Duane Pasco