Lopez Island Grange rug makers, 1936. Willie Gallanger, Lenore Weeks, Leora Todd, and Sadie (Coffelt) Forest.

Our Mission

Exploring Lopez Island History

The Mission of the Lopez Island Historical Society is to collect, preserve, interpret, and share local history to increase awareness and appreciation of this resource for the benefit of future generations.

Please join us in honoring and remembering our community

We have created a beautiful outdoor space at the museum to remember our community. The six posts will hold three sizes of anodized aluminum plaques – black with silver print. Help us populate it with the names of loved ones – friends, family, ancestors, teachers, mentors, neighbors… anyone you would like to honor.

Making Hay While the Sun Shines:

50 Years of Restaurants on Lopez, 1950 - 2000

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SX'WáLECH TO LOPEZ

The San Juan Islands are the traditional territory of the Straits Salish people. Since 1790, they remained on the islands but faced disruptions from European contact, disease, treaties, and exploitation of the salmon fishery.

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A PHOTO ALBUM OF ISLAND LIFE

Historic photos and documents of farming, fishing, logging, schools, stores, entertainment, industries, boosterism, tourism, and churches on the island.

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LIHS Olympia to Victoria Event Poster, featuring a illustration of Charles Mitchell by Gregory Christie, with a yellow background and a steamship on a blue curving line that seems to wrap around the boy, as well as a photo of Lorraine McConaghy who is wearing a dark mauve sweater, a dark gray turtleneck, and glasses.

Events

Olympia to Victoria: An Enslaved Boy’s Voyage to Freedom

Thursday, June 15, 2026, 6:30PM, Lopez Center for Community and the Arts, 204 Village Rd Join historian Lorraine McConaghy for a talk based on her

LIHS Harry Smith Event Poster featuring a photo of a young Harry Smith with Julius Charles at the Lummi Smokehouse in 1943, and speaker Bret Lunsford, who is wearing a blue plaid shirt and is standing in front of window display of neckties.

Events

Sounding for Harry Smith with Bret Lunsford

Thursday, April 9, 6:30PM, Lopez Center for Community and the Arts, 204 Village Rd Pacific Northwest musician-historian, Bret Lunsford (Anacortes Museum) unravels a string of