History is Moving: A New Era for MOHAI

Perhaps you’ve heard the saying, “the future is just around the corner”? For the South Lake Union neighborhood, history is just around the corner too.

The Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI), which focuses on the history of the Puget Sound Region, will be moving to Lake Union Park in 2012, remodeling the historic Naval Reserve Building as their new location, with 32,000 square feet dedicated to gallery space.  But this is not just a move—it is a transformation. The new museum will welcome 120,000 visitors each year to experience the past, the present and the future through interactive exhibits.

A visitor to the new museum will enter a vast atrium with four exhibit towers that focus on the important topics of the 21st century: natural resources, people, innovation and technology. On the second level, visitors will travel through the chronological narrative of Puget Sound’s rich history.

“MOHAI is very excited to be moving to the South Lake Union neighborhood. This central location will certainly enhance our visibility and attendance and we’re looking forward to a greater capacity to serve both the community and out of town visitors,” said Mercedes Lawry, Director of Communications at MOHAI. “So much of our local history is reflected in the history of the South Lake Union neighborhood and this, coupled with our relocating to a beautiful historic building in a wonderful new park, makes it an ideal site for a re-imagined history museum.”

During the last 50 years in its Montlake location, MOHAI has engaged Seattle residents, out-of-town visitors and thousands of K-12 students who visit the museum each year as part of the classroom curriculum.  Due to the 520 bridge expansion plans, MOHAI needs to move to a new location, but they also want to transform the experience of what history is.  Persons wishing to support the $40 million capital campaign can visit HistoryIsMoving.org or they can contact Elaine Ethier at (206) 324-1126.