SEQUIM — The Sequim-Dungeness Valley Museum and Arts Center brings certain well-known objects to mind, such as the remains of a prehistoric mastodon on display, for example, or farm implements.
The items on display in the center’s Cedar Street location, however, represent about 1.5 percent of the museum’s 19,000-item collection, which includes everything from Victorian-era clothing to skulls to exotic insects to vintage toys.
The museum has plans for a much larger display space to be built across from Sequim High School on North Sequim Avenue.
Fundraising for the more than $2 million project has already started, and the effort is expected to begin in earnest early 2006.
In the meantime, the historical artifacts are preserved away from public view — wrapped in acid-free paper, kept at an optimal temperature and handled infrequently, if at all, so as not to damage anything.
In addition to artifacts, the museum has a photo archive of about 7,000 images, a research library and genealogical resources.