Items used by Native Americans & pioneers of the late 1800s. Functional tools & articles that added music & culture. Outstanding mineral collection that includes petrified woods, fluorescents & locally found meteorites.

Since its founding in 1889, Waterville, along with the designation of being the Douglas County Seat, boasts a rich history filled with farming, recreation destinations, and diverse economic trends.

In 1883, Stephen Boise placed a squatter’s claim on the shrub steppe plateau in Eastern Washington, high above a big bend in the Columbia River. Soon, he built a cabin and dug a well. The well produced water, and lots of it…it was the only available water for miles around. Before long, the site was to become a county seat; the precious liquid would give the Town of Waterville its name.

For more information about the history of Waterville, visit the Douglas County Historical Museum in Waterville. In addition to a wealth of displays and archived material about Waterville, the museum sells several books about the history Waterville and the surrounding area.