The mission of the South Whidbey Historical Society is to discover, collect, and preserve artifacts and information which reflect the history of South Whidbey, and to maintain a museum on South Whidbey to contain such material and to make it available to the public throught displays and programs.

On September 1, 1981, the South Whidbey Historical Society became incorporated in Washington State; it received its federal non-profit tax-free status in 1983. Island County Historical Society had come into existence in Coupeville in 1949. In 1975, distance and differences in development"and demography led to the establishment of the South Whidbey auxiliary which led to the final division in 1991, allowing South Whidbey to focus on its own unique history.

South Whidbey Historical Society opened exhibits to the public in 1983, located in the old Langley High School (1935). In 1992, the South Whidbey Museum opened in its current location in downtown Langley, in a historic building willed to the Society by a generous pioneer. Extensive renovation, funded by the Historical Society, was carried out by volunteers.

The Society also maintains the McLeod Cabin, an original log structure with antique furnishings; the Brooks Hill Log House features photographs of other log structures from huts to saunas existing in the area. The antique farm machinery collection, housed in a large building on the Fairgrounds, has accumulated over the last twenty years. These displays are open to the public during the Island County Fair and by special request, as well as during the Living History program with the intermediate school. The Island County Fair draws 35,000 - 40,QOO visitors each year, many of whom tour the cabins and machinery building.

While the Museum, which is open from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday year around, is a primary project of the Society, other activities include the April annual meeting and Pioneers on Parade, a community event which honors a pioneer family and has an attendance of about 100. The annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner, held in October, honors docents and other volunteers. The Museum itself attracts more than 1000 visitors annually (each year the numbers grow), with more than 75 per cent visiting from off-Island.

Our activities with the South Whidbey School District have blossomed in the last few years. A project with the high school photography laboratory has resulted in a series of early photographs reproduced as postcards, now available for sale. We have always welcomed classes visiting our Museum. We open on request, and provide decents for any interested group. We are proud of our Living History Project, involving the South Whidbey Intermediate School. Last year, 250 fifth grade students were involved in hands-on activities at ten sites. Skills have ranged from folk dancing, quilting, and butter-making to black-smithing and building a split rail fence from raw logs to completion. This year the event expanded to two days, and involved all 500 student from the three grades.

As the Historical Society has grown and developed, we have continued to add to our outreach programs. Our goal is to provide more information about the history and development of the area to the current population. With increased visibility of the Museum in Langley, more tourists have found us. Our off-site display of fossils in special display cases has attracted local and tourist interest; our activity with the schools has involved teachers and parents. The Island County Fair displays have been extremely popular. We continue to explore areas for expansion of our outreach programs. We aquaint our many new residenst with the history and development of the area, and the values of the people who settled here.