About RHS

The Renton Historical Society has been preserving history for the city of Renton since 1966, becoming a 501(c)3 non-profit organization in 1971. Founded by local teachers and librarians with the goal of preserving Renton’s history, RHS began operations by organizing small exhibits at local libraries. In 1979, RHS and the City of Renton partnered on the development of the Renton History Museum, located in Historic Fire Station #1.

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We moved our headquarters and artifacts from the museum building in July of 2025, ushering in a new era of sharing history. We added on 'Genealogy Center' to our name in October of 2025 to better serve our community, though our mission remains the same: We are dedicated to the preservation of over 60,000 precious artifacts, including photos, books, textiles, and machinery. Each item within the collection captures a glimpse into the lives of those who shaped the history of Renton.

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In April of 2026 we purchased our forever home, the historic Snoqualmie Falls Substation built in 1898. It is the oldest brick building still standing in Renton. This newest chapter is the culmination of the work of the volunteers, staff and community members who were foundational to the organization’s success.

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We are committed to increasing accessibility to artifacts through free remote public access, and are seeking additional space to store artifacts and host exhibits.