Northwest Railway Museum Earns 2008 Heritage Tourism Award
April 25, 2008 — Historic trains capture everyone's imagination and the Northwest Railway Museum has turned Snoqualmie's deep railroad history into an attraction that draws people from all over the world. 4Culture has recognized the museum's contribution to the promotion of the county's heritage to audiences outside King County with its prestigious Heritage Tourism Award – the "Golden Rain Globe." 4Culture Executive Director Jim Kelly presented the 2008 award to NRM executive director Richard R. Anderson at the Association of King County Historical Organizations' annual awards ceremony April 22.
"Cultural tourism is an important part of our museum's model for sustainability, particularly as we partner with the City of Snoqualmie to become the anchor attraction in the historic downtown," Anderson said. "We feel very honored to be recognized by 4Culture for our efforts in this regard."
Founded in 1957, the Northwest Railway Museum is the largest and most comprehensive railway museum in Washington State. More than 80,000 people a year visit its collection of working engines, rolling stock, specialized equipment, and artifacts at the Snoqualmie Depot, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. The depot is the centerpiece of the Snoqualmie Historic District and near the Snoqualmie Falls Generating Station, also listed on the National Register.
4Culture inaugurated the award in 2007 as a way to recognize the contributions of heritage organizations to the county's growing heritage tourism industry. The award highlights an individual, organization, or agency that has most effectively shared the distinctive cultural heritage of King County through successful promotion beyond the local level. The recipient also demonstrates successful adherence to the five principles of sustainable heritage tourism established by the National Trust for Historic Preservation:
- Collaborating with partners
- Finding balance between community and tourism
- Making sites and programs come alive
- Focusing on quality and authenticity
- Preserving and protecting heritage resources
For more information on the Northwest Railway Museum, visit the museum's website or call 425-888-3030. For more information on how your organization can promote heritage tourism opportunities, contact Flo Lentz, Preservation 4Culture, 206-296-8682.
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