Come to our museum for rare artifacts, photos, memorabilia
Ahoy! Adults and children are invited to the Southwest Seattle Historical Society’s newly expanded exhibit at its Log House Museum that focuses on the 100th birthday of the Alki Lighthouse.
Launched on June 1, 2013, the exhibit runs throughout the summer of 2013. Called “Alki Centennial Summer: From Lantern to Lighthouse,” it celebrates our neighbor facility that is operated a half mile to the west of the museum by the U.S. Coast Guard.
Concurrently, the Coast Guard is opening the Alki Lighthouse for public tours from 1 to 4 p.m. on weekends throughout the summer.
“Our organization’s celebration parallels and complements that of the Coast Guard,” says Clay Eals, executive director of the Southwest Seattle Historical Society.
“Our mini-exhibit on the lighthouse, in the maritime exhibit of our small gallery, has expanded to the main gallery and includes newly displayed artifacts, rare vintage photos, artwork and other memorabilia to tell the inspiring story of how the lighthouse came to be, how it has operated as an aid to navigation over the years and how it continues to be a symbol of hope for all of West Seattle and beyond.”
The exhibit also covers the decades prior to the construction of the lighthouse, when a single lantern provided the same function of aiding the navigation of sailing ships and steering them away from danger.
Curated by Sarah Baylinson, museum manager, along with Hester Goodwin and other Southwest Seattle Historical Society collection/exhibit volunteers, the exhibit will run all summer long and be enhanced from time to time with the addition of new items, activities and interpretive programs.
On Saturday, June 1, 2013, the museum kicked off this celebration with an unveiling of the enhanced exhibit, an afternoon program featuring talks by Joe Follansbee and Merrilee Hagen, a children’s coloring activity and handmade Alki Lighthouse cookies for all.
For more information on “Alki Centennial Summer: From Lantern to Lighthouse,” call the museum at 206-938-5293 during our open hours: noon to 4 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays.
BONUS:
Here’s the recipe for the Alki Lighthouse cookies that were part of the June 1 opening of our expanded exhibit.
The basics came from allrecipes.com, and embellishments were added by our baking crew of Carol Vincent, Joan Stover, Marcy Johnsen and Kerry Korsgaard.
As noted by lead baker Vincent, “Ingredients did not change, but it took the strong hands of our crew to roll, cut out and bake 200 cookies, then carefully place the ‘light’ atop the lighthouse and steady hands to frost then pipe on the paned windows. All was accomplished with fun-filled camaraderie and delicious appetizers – all in all, a most successful project!”
BEST ROLLED SUGAR COOKIES
(makes 5 dozen)
1-½ cups of butter, softened
2 cups white sugar
4 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
5 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in the flour, baking powder and salt. Cover and chill dough for at least one hour (or overnight).
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Roll out dough on floured surface 1/4-inch to 1/2-inch thick. Cut into shapes with any cookie cutter. Place cookies 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake 6 to 8 minutes in preheated oven. Cool completely.
