The Cheney Historical Museum presents our local history from the time of the first white settlers around 1869 through the growth and development or our region. We have a diverse collection of photos and artifacts of pioneer home life, schools, early farming, the tools of building our communities, and a look at the people and businesses that shaped our towns. Our collection of photographs and archive materials helps researchers of family and regional history.

To help people understand our shared history of the Marshall, Four Lakes, Cheney, Tyler, and Amber districts of southwest Spokane County in eastern Washington, connecting the past with the present and building a bridge to the future by: a) Engaging the community in preserving our history and collection, historic places, and understanding their value; b) Working with organizations, institutions, business, and community to promote our districts' cultural life and heritage; c) Interpreting the history of our districts based on solid research.

The Tilicum Club organized in 1903 as a womens service organization. In 1935, the club was asked by several pioneer families to help in perserving information and artifacts about settlers and history of our district.

In 2011 the Tilicum Club changed its name to the Southwest Spokane County Historical Society. The new name reflects the re-focused purposes of the organization and also reflects the change from a women's club to a broadly based historical society.

Artifacts from our own pioneers are used to create galleries showing rooms of a pioneer home and farm yard. There are objects which children can manipulate in each "room".

A one room school exhibit shows a typical scene from the rural schools in our district. The locations of all of the rural schools are shown on a modern map. There is also a scrapbook display with information and photographs of most of the rural schools.