By Luisa Loi
La Conner Community News
Facing the loss of nearly all of its County funding under Skagit County’s proposed 2027 budget, the Skagit County Historical Museum is exploring new ways to supplement its savings and retain programs.
While the financial support has been going up and down over the years, Director Jo Wolfe said she was surprised to learn the County was planning to wean off the museum almost entirely, cutting roughly $162,000 in funds as well as technological support and equipment. The County proposed the cuts in anticipation of another lean year.
The Historical Museum was opened in 1968 and is owned and operated by the Skagit County Historical Society, an independent nonprofit.
The decision came earlier this year and was made public through the museum’s newsletter. Since then, she said, many community members have called to join the Skagit County Historical Society and to offer donations and technological support.
The museum will continue to receive roughly $20,000 in Historical Preservation Records fees and, depending on the Lodging Tax Commission, may also receive a portion of the lodging tax revenue, she said.
The facility draws about 5,000 visitors every year and preserves tens of thousands of artifacts, documents, diaries and photographs from as long ago as the pre-colonization era, not only serving as an educational resource for people of all ages, but also helping families piece together clues about their ancestors’ lives.
“If you look at our county, it’s long and skinny. … There’s a lot of varying history, a lot of different cultures,” Wolfe said. “There’s other museums around, but they’re focused on their particular town or particular area.”
Wolfe said the county has been very supportive for years, supplementing about 41% of the museum’s annual budget. She understands slashing the funds was a necessary move, noting how programs like Meals on Wheels and many county staff positions — 51 — have been cut for 2026.
“They had a huge deficit coming into 2026,” she said. “We understand, but it doesn’t make it feel any better.”
If the gap isn’t filled, the museum may have to reduce its seven-member staff and hours of operations, as well as school tours, adult education programs, exhibits and research appointments, said Wolfe, who is also the only full-time employee.
Through the Washington Museum Association, Wolfe has been in touch with other museums around the state that have been facing similar predicaments.
Though she expects that offsetting the deficit will be challenging, she believes it isn’t an impossible feat.
The museum encourages anyone to become members of the Historical Society (which counted 438 members as of Monday), make a donation and participate in events and activities, while businesses and organizations can become sponsors. At the same time, the museum is applying for grants.
Luisa Loi is a general assignment reporter for La Conner Community News.
