EVENTS
PUBLIC HISTORY DAY :: SAT JULY 25, 2026
SAT JULY 25, 2026 | 9:30 AM-4:00 PM
SWIFT CENTER (NSH CAMPUS)
​The Port of Skagit County and the Skagit County Historical Museum are proud to present the public history event at Northern State Hospital!
Hear from speakers who worked and lived at Northern State, learn the history, purchase books at the book table, take a self-guided outdoor walking tour, write a memory on the memorial wall, and more!
​Admission to Public History Day is free. Events meet outside the Colman building on the Northern State Campus. Public parking available.
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NEW THIS YEAR: HUB SNEAK PEEK!​
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From 9:30am to 3:30pm on NSH Public History Day, visitors may come inside the upstairs of the Hub Building to see firsthand the architectural elements and history of this beautiful building, constructed in 1916. No tickets are required for the Hub Building Sneak Peek, but visitors will be asked to check-in with museum staff before entering the self-guided exhibit. Photographs are welcome and encouraged, and Port of Skagit staff will be on hand to answer questions and share future plans.
2026 PUBLIC HISTORY DAY ​SPEAKER SCHEDULE
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Join us in the seats outside Colman Hall for our 2026 lineup of speakers.
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10:00 am :: NSH Historian Amy Muia - the history of Northern State
11:00 am :: Holly Witte - how the Olmsted brothers planned the original campus
12:00 pm :: Outdoor walking tour with Holly Witte
1:00 pm :: Kris Goodan, daughter of superintendent Dr. Charles Jones
2:00 pm :: NSH Historian John Horne - the history of the NSH cemetery
3:30 pm :: At the cemetery - John Horne on cemetery restoration efforts
​EVENT PARKING
​Park along Hub Drive (head in), or in the parking lot to the east of the Hub/Chapel. Handicapped spaces available.
MORE NORTHERN STATE HISTORY EVENTS
TOPICS AT THE SCHOOL
Meet at Skagit City School, 17508 Moore Rd, Mount Vernon, WA 98273
Sponsored by the Skagit County Historical Museum
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Sunday June 14, 2026 at 2:00 pm
The Decades of Northern State Hospital
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When and why was Northern State Hospital established? What kind of patients lived there? What were the treatment methods of the day? Are stories of scandals true? And why did it close? Join Northern State Hospital researcher Amy Muia for this unique, informative, and respectful presentation as she shares vintage photos, stories, and the best of her research about Northern State through the decades, from opening to closing. Meets at Skagit City School.
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Sunday July 12, 2026 at 2:00 pm
Northern State Hospital Cemetery Presentation
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Join NSH researcher John Horne for this informative presentation on the Northern State Hospital cemetery. Who is buried there? Was this the original site? When did burials stop? And what's being done today to preserve this historic site, and honor the patients? Meets at Skagit City School.
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Sunday August 14, 2026 at 2:00 pm
The Headliners of Northern State
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Step into the headlines of history with Northern State Hospital researcher Amy Muia as she explores the most talked-about stories from the earliest days of the hospital in 1909 to its closing in 1973. Discover how news coverage reflected changing treatments and philosophies, uncover scandals both real and rumored, learn about notable patients and staff, and hear surprising stories that offer a rare glimpse into life at one of Washington's most renowned institutions. Meets at Skagit City School.
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Thursday, November 5, 2026 at 6:00 pm
​CENTRAL SKAGIT LIBRARY, Sedro-Woolley
110 W State St, Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284
The Headliners of Northern State
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Step into the headlines of history with Northern State Hospital researcher Amy Muia as she explores the most talked-about stories from the earliest days of the hospital in 1909 to its closing in 1973. Discover how news coverage reflected changing treatments and philosophies, uncover scandals both real and rumored, learn about notable patients and staff, and hear surprising stories that offer a rare glimpse into life at one of Washington's most renowned institutions.
LAST JUNE - FOR THE LOVE OF NORTHERN STATE 2025
FRIDAY JUNE 6 AND SATURDAY JUNE 7, 2025
A SEDRO-WOOLLEY MUSEUM EVENT
Join us on June 6th and 7th at the Sedro-Woolley Museum as we remember and celebrate the profound impact of Northern State Hospital on our community, honoring the many lives intertwined with its history.
Friday, June 6 at 6:30 PM :: The Northern State Cemetery
John Horne shares a special presentation on the full history of the Northern State Hospital Cemetery, and restoration plans to honor the people buried at this historic site.
Saturday, June 7 :: “The Headliners of Northern State”
11:00 AM & 1:00 PM
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Step into the headlines of history with Northern State Hospital researcher Amy Muia as she explores the most talked-about stories from the hospital’s operation between 1910 and 1973. Discover how news coverage reflected changing treatments and philosophies, uncover scandals both real and rumored, learn about notable patients and staff, and hear surprising stories that offer a rare glimpse into life at one of Washington’s most mysterious institutions.
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Saturday, June 7 from 2:30-3:30 :: Exhibit Open House
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NSH researchers Amy Muia and John Horne will be in the Northern State exhibit at the Sedro-Woolley Museum for an open Q & A. Browse the exhibit, see the artifacts, read the history, and ask your questions!​