RHS News

The latest on the Historical Society, the Renton History Museum, and a relevant history leading up to our present status and future goals. RHS and the Renton History Museum: A Long-Standing Partnership An Interview with Tom Monahan Founded in 1966 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 Hist

1928 Olive and Dario, and their children, Gloria and George. Submitted by: Carrie Cartwright Bergquist | Board President The more we learn about our local history, the more connections we can make between us and our fellow residents, their families, and the development of our community. Below, Carrie Bergquist shares about her family. My grandfather, Dario Bulgarelli, came from Piandelagotti, Italy, in 1913. He passed through Renton by train on his way to meet his brother Joh

Making History with Writing: a 3-part Series Do you want to write a memoir, biography, genealogy history, family history, or even historical fiction, and you don’t know where to start? Join RHS for one or all of our three-part series, where our office manager, Jennifer Douwes, will guide you through your first steps. Each segment will cover a different aspect. We'll talk about research in our January class. February will follow with outlining, and in March, we will cover wri

Submitted by Renton Then and Now Renton Shopping Center was the city's first shopping mall. It was located on a 28-acre site near the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Rainier Ave South. It opened in March 1960, years before I-5, I-405, or Southcenter mall were constructed. The welcoming brochure listed several stores, the largest of which was Sears, which was located at the north end of the mall. At the south end of the mall was Market Basket, which was later replaced by

Hello from Renton Historical Society, As I reflect on my one year of service to Renton Historical Society (RHS) as President of the Board...

Hello from Renton Historical Society, Firstly, we would like to start with some incredible news. RHS has been awarded $170,030 in grant...

As we look ahead to 2025, let us take a moment to acknowledge the progress made in the few short months since our last membership...

With fall well underway, RHS has taken steps to ensure that the facilities in our care are secured. The annex roof was given a second...

Over the last few months, RHS has been hard at work developing the administrative infrastructure required to maintain a functional...