Renton History Museum

The Renton History Museum is the repository for the history of greater Renton. Jointly supported by the City of Renton and the Renton Historical Society, the Museum’s mission is to preserve, document, interpret, and educate about the history of greater Renton in ways that are accessible to diverse people of all ages. The Museum does this by providing exciting exhibits and programs throughout the year.  The museum has a collection of over 15,000 photographs spanning all periods of Renton's past. Over 90,000 objects also document Renton’s history; these include early books and newspapers, records from local businesses, ephemera and photos relating to school life, and collections of coal mining and fire-fighting artifacts. The Museum has a small research library open to the public during the week by appointment. Museum staff and volunteers are available to assist researchers with historical and genealogical questions.   The Museum is housed in an Art Deco-style former fire station at Mill Avenue South and Houser Way. Constructed in 1942, it is the last existing structure in the  area built under the Works Progress Administration (WPA).  The photo on the left in the banner is from 1944 and shows the building during its days as "Fire Station #1."