Youngsters can learn more about how South King County’s local landmarks tie into American history, thanks to a collaboration produced by local heritage members of SoCoCulture and the King County Library System.
The 2018 version of Bookmarks & Landmarks Jr. launches on Saturday, Feb. 10, at 2 PM, when the White River Valley Museum hosts the first program for kids ages 10 and older who have read the popular book, “Boston Jane.”
This adventure story is about an adolescent girl who makes the long journey from the East Coast to the Puget Sound region in the 1850s. And it turns out that the adventures in “Boston Jane” tie in well with some of the pioneer exhibits on display at the White River Valley Museum in Auburn.
For this program, young readers are invited to check out the “Boston Jane” book at their local KCLS branch library and read it ahead of time, then come to the Museum on February 10 at 2 PM to participate in a scavenger hunt and other hands-on activities that engage in the history of our area and the themes from the book.
The event is free, but children and the adults attending with them must pre-register by contacting the Auburn Library at 253-931-3018.
There will similar tie-ins between local historic sites and books at two additional programs in the Bookmarks & Landmarks Jr. series this spring.
WW II STORY MARCH 24
On March 24, the historic Neely Mansion (12303 SE Auburn-Black Diamond Road Auburn), will host a discussion and activities about the World War II era after young readers read the book, “Dash.” The story is about a dog that had to be left behind when her Japanese-American owner was sent away to an internment camp. On its grounds, the Neely Mansion has a historic Japanese bathhouse that had been abandoned when farmers of Japanese heritage who were working at the Neely were sent to internment camps after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The bathhouse they had to leave behind was recently restored to its original condition by the Neely Mansion Association.
GHOST STORIES!
And on April 28, kids who read local author Peg Kehret’s book, “The Ghost’s Grave,” in advance, will be able to sign up for a visit to the Black Diamond Museum, and a hike to the 1880s coal mining ghost town of Franklin, which is normally off-limits to the public.
For more information about the Bookmarks & Landmarks Jr. program, visit sococulture.org and click on the events calendar, or inquire at your local library.
