BHPA
Webmaster April 8th, 2007
Bigelow House Preservation Association
Formed in 1991, the Bigelow House Preservation Association (BHPA) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to preservation of Bigelow House and interpretation of its significance to local and regional history. BHPA purchased the house from Daniel and Mary Ann Bigelow, the builder’s grandson and his wife, in 1994. In 1994-95, the BHPA undertook a massive restoration of the House. Lost features were restored to reflect its original 1860s exterior appearance and its interior was restored to reflect its territorial-era layout. The house also received structural upgrades to accommodate its use into the Twenty-First Century. In 1995 Bigelow House opened its doors as a museum, showcasing authentic Bigelow family artifacts and documents tracing the family’s history as well as the history of Olympia, Washington State, and the Pacific Northwest.
The purchase of Bigelow House also included an unusual life-estate contract clause. Bigelow family members lived in private rooms within the house even as the ground floor was open to public tours. With the end of the life-estate contract in 2005, Bigelow House now functions as Olympia’s community museum, hosting tourists, researchers, and group functions.
2007 Board:
- Roger Easton, President
- Edward Echtle, Secretary
- Daniel Berschauer
- Ken Lewis
- Gary McIntosh
- Shanna Stevenson
- Erica Stillman
- Craig Swalling
Honorary Board Members:
- David Goularte
- Alice Hamilton
Staff
Museum Director: Karen Johnson
Email: staff@bigelowhouse.org
Phone: 360.753.1215
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