An Urgent Update Regarding the Museum at Keewaydin
A Critical Moment for the East Benton County Historical Society
Our future at 205 West Keewaydin Drive is still uncertain, the only thing the city council could agree on regarding the building (at the workshop meeting on June 23, 2026), is that they do not want to remodel the existing city hall. That was the only plan out of four options that did not affect the Museum at Keewaydin. You can see the plans for yourself here, by downloading the presentation. There is also a printed copy at the museum.
The City of Kennewick is exploring options for a new City Hall, and the updated plans still hurt the museum. Revised plan Option 1A gives us 3,500 sq ft of space within city hall. This is a significant reduction of our exhibit space and leaves us no space for artifact storage or offices. Designers of this plan used the Moses Lake Museum and Art Center as an example of what a museum inside of city hall could look like. What they failed to mention is that the City of Moses Lake is cutting ties with their museum by 2029, a devastating blow to the history and community of Moses Lake. This plan has the city spending millions of dollars of taxpayers' money to reduce our space and force us into city hall, where we will be treated as an afterthought.
Option 1B and Option 2 retain the existing museum structure but eliminate access to our basement garage door. This entrance is not only an emergency exit but also essential for transporting large artifacts. Furthermore, the plan relocates parking significantly further from the entrances of both the museum and the community center. This creates an accessibility concern for disabled and elderly visitors and volunteers. All options being considered will expand green spaces and/or hardscape surfaces in Keewaydin Park. The landscaping around the museum and Keewaydin Park is already neglected due to the Parks department being spread thin.
Please join us in advocating for the preservation of the Museum at Keewaydin. Let's protect our past to enrich our future.
How You Can Help
Sign the petition if you haven’t already, to urge leaders to reconsider the demolition plan.
Show your support by coming to the July 7 City Council meeting. The meeting begins at 6:30 with citizens' comments. If you're not comfortable speaking, just showing up shows you care. You can pick up a button at the museum during our regular hours.
Write to your city council members sharing your thoughts on the importance of preserving the museum.
Send physical letter here:
[Council Member Name]
Care of City Hall
210 W 6th Ave
Kennewick, WA 99336
You can also email the council members:
Jason McShane, Mayor - Ward 1 Position 1
Jason.McShane@ci.kennewick.wa.us
Chuck Torelli
Mayor Pro Tem - At Large Position 5 (All Wards)
Chuck.Torelli@ci.kennewick.wa.us
Loren Anderson, Council Member - Ward 2 Position 2
Loren.Anderson@ci.kennewick.wa.us
Brad Beauchamp, Council Member - At Large Position 6 (All Wards)
Brad.Beauchamp@ci.kennewick.wa.us
Jim Millbauer, Council Member - At Large Position 7 (All Wards)
Jim.Millbauer@ci.kennewick.wa.us
John Trumbo, Council Member - Ward 3 Position 3
John.Trumbo@ci.kennewick.wa.us
Brad Klippert, Council Member - At Large Position 4 (All Wards)
Brad.Klippert@ci.kennewick.wa.us