Travel Back in Time as you Explore the Historic Homes Tour! – 5/1/2024

A rare glimpse into historic structures such as the Cascadian Hotel, the Wells House, and the Home of Peace Mausoleum

The Wenatchee Valley Museum & Cultural Center is partnering with the City of Wenatchee Historic Preservation Board to host this self-guided tour on Saturday, May 18, from 10 AM to 4 PM .

The Historic Homes Tour provides a rare opportunity to explore private historic properties that are generally not open to the public. Volunteer docents will be on hand to share their historical research with tour visitors. Throughout the tour, we will be highlighting homes and properties listed on the Wenatchee Register of Historic Places and homes of historical significance, such as the homes on 917 Idaho Street, 500 Douglas Street, the Cascadian Hotel, our own historic Wells House, and several more.

“The charm and character of this house and the surrounding neighborhood have made a wonderful home for us,” historic homeowner Lisa Dahlgreen said. “This thoughtfully updated 1920s-era colonial craftsman home on Idaho Street still retains many of its original features.”

“Lots of people confess their love affair with this home, and it’s got a great floor plan and intact original period architectural detailing inside to match its exterior appeal,” historic homeowner Heather Ostenson stated. “Natural light pours in through all the wavy glass wood casement windows early in the day, illuminating the main living spaces with a warm glow. The rooms flow one into another, just as they did one hundred years ago when the Morrises lived here.”

The Cascadian Hotel is a ten-story building built in 1929 by the West Coast Hotel Company at the cost of $500,000, with excavation contracted out to Goodfellow Bros. In 1935, The Cascadian Hotel made national news when Elsie Parrish sued the West Coast Hotel Company for not providing her a livable minimum wage. Her lawsuit was the precedent to national Minimum Wage standards, not just for women, but for everyone.

The historic Wells House was built by William T. Clark and was later bought by A.Z. Wells in 1919. Adelaide Clark, the wife of W.T. Clark, designed the stained-glass windows depicting apple trees. This gorgeous home currently resides on the Wenatchee Valley College campus.

The tour will conclude with a members-only reception hosted by the Wenatchee Valley Museum & Cultural Center, held at the Performance Hall from 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM. Refreshments will be provided. Reception guests will receive one complimentary drink token, with additional drinks available for purchase.

Tickets for the Historic Homes Tour are $30, and tickets for the members-only reception are an additional $10. Registration is required.