Spend a day at the museum
JOEL MARTIN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 2 years, 6 months AGO
Moses Lake pastor and photographer Walter Klockers stands among his macro photos, currently on exhibit at the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center. Klockers’ insect-festooned shirt was a gift from his wife Jeannie, he said, who tolerates but does not share his passion for creepy-crawly creatures.
JOEL MARTIN/COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD
Joel Martin has been with the Columbia Basin Herald for more than 25 years in a variety of roles and is the most-tenured employee in the building. Martin is a married father of eight and enjoys spending time with his children and his wife, Christina. He is passionate about the paper’s mission of informing the people of the Columbia Basin because he knows it is important to record the history of the communities the publication serves. | June 22, 2023 1:00 AM
COLUMBIA BASIN — We often think of museums as something you find in big cities, but there are lots of them just a short drive away here in the Basin. Here are some places to enjoy art or learn about the area.
Note: Many museums are staffed by volunteers and funded by donations, which means that hours and days of operation can change without warning. Visitors are advised to call ahead.
Grant County Historical Society Museum
10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday May-September
742 Basin St NW, Ephrata
509-754-3334
Moses Lake Museum & Art Center
10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday year-round
401 S. Balsam St., Moses Lake
509-764-3830
The Old Hotel
10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday year-round
33 E. Larch St., Othello
509-488-5936
www.facebook.com/theoldhotelothello
Quincy Valley Historical Society & Museum
1-5 p.m. Friday and Saturday May-November
415 F St. SW, Quincy
509-787-4685
Ritzville Railroad Depot Museum
12-4 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday Memorial Day weekend-Labor Day
201 W. Railroad Ave., Ritzville
509-660-0708
Burroughs Home Museum
12-4 p.m. Monday, Wednesday-Saturday Memorial Day weekend-Labor Day
408 W. Main Ave., Ritzville
509-660-1089
Wanapum Heritage Center
8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday-Friday; 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday year-round
At Priest Rapids Dam, 29082 Highway 243, Mattawa
509-766-3461
Colville Tribal Museum & Gift Shop
9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday May 31-Sept. 30
512 Mead Way, Coulee Dam
509-633-0751
www.colvilletribes.com/colville-tribal-museum
Grand Coulee Dam Visitor Center
9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily; dam tours May 27-Oct. 31
Highway 155, Coulee Dam
509-633-9265
Big Bend Historical Society Museum
10 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursday, April-October
505 NW Cole Ave., Wilbur
509-647-5566 or 509-639-2346
Gehrke Windmill Garden
24 hours year-round
North Dam Park, Grand Coulee
Dry Falls Visitor Center
10 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday-Monday, open year-round
35661 Highway 17, Coulee City
509-632-5214
Mansfield Museum
1-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday May 31-Sept. 30
121 Main St., Mansfield
509-888-5357
www.facebook.com/MansfieldWAMuseum
Historic Hartline School
10-4 p.m. Thursday-Saturday March-December
92 Chelan St., Hartline
509-639-2566
ARTICLES BY JOEL MARTIN
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MOSES LAKE — With Christmas just around the corner, lots of folks are using their fireplaces for warmth, roasting chestnuts or just a pleasant atmosphere. But before Santa pays your chimney a visit, you should make sure it’s in good working order. Chimney fires are responsible for more than three-fourths of residential building heating fires, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. Regular inspections and cleaning are the best way to prevent that, said Michael Harper, known as The Chimney Guy. “If they’re using (the fireplace) aesthetically – date night, Christmas, New Year’s, show-off times, something in the background here and there, (they should) have it inspected once a year for peace of mind,” Harper said. “If they’re using it two to three days a week religiously through the winter months, they need to have it cleaned once a year.”