Thank you to our donors, grantors, and supporters!
Support Worthington Park:
Click Here to visit the Quilcene Historical Museum website and learn more about our mission.
Click Here to Download our 2022 Donor and Membership Card for cash or check dues or donations.
Alternatively, Click Here to Pay Dues or Make Donations via credit card.
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Worthington Park would not exist without individual donors and grantors (foundations, corporations, and government) who are the financial engine behind the creation of Worthington Park. Also of great importance are the generous contributions of hundreds of community volunteers who have collectively committed thousands of hours to the restoration, construction, and operation of the facility.
Worthington Park benefits nearly equally from the contributions of granting agencies and individual donors. We are grateful for for the support of our major grantors which have funded critical stages in the restoration of the historic mansion. They include the Washington State Department of Commerce, the Washington State Heritage Capital Project Fund, the Murdock Charitable Trust, the C. Keith Birkenfeld Memorial Trust, the Norman Archibald Charitable Foundation, the First Federal Community Foundation, the Pomeroy Foundation, and U.S. Bank. Click here to learn more about the funding of project phases.
Worthington Park is a unique and beautiful ten acre, multi-use facility committed to environmental best practices and the historical, cultural, recreational, and economic livelihood of the South Jefferson County region. The Worthington mansion is the only remaining house of its size, integrity, and cultural relevance in rural Jefferson County. It is on both the Washington State Heritage Registry of Historic Places and the National Register of Historic Places. The mansion, historic barn, ten acres, Linger Longer Outdoor Theatre (built by volunteers in 2012), and Museum offer a unique venue for private and public events and economic opportunities.
Our goal is to serve both our local community and businesses, in addition to building greater ties to our regional communities and introduce out-of-area visitors to the rich history and beauty of the Olympic Peninsula. Visitation to our region is already increasing dramatically with over 1.2 million vehicles passing through Quilcene each year.
Thanks to the dedication and resourcefulness of volunteers – as well as careful stewardship of grants and donations – the completion of Worthington Park continues to operate “in the black”. Worthington Park is a special events center operating under the auspices of the Quilcene Historical Museum, a 501(c)3 organization. Click here to view our 2019 Annual Report. (Link opens in new tab.)
A Gift of History
Nearing the end of her life in July of 2011, Eilleen Worthington offered the twenty-member museum board of directors a two-year option to buy her remaining property, including: the 1892 Victorian mansion, a 1915 barn, and ten acres bordering the Little Quilcene River.
On August, 2011 the Museum and the Worthington family signed a purchase agreement for the property. Through sheer determination, the Quilcene Historical Society successfully implemented a large scale, multi-phased, rehabilitation and development plan to restore the National Register listed Worthington mansion to its former glory.
In 2012, a Five Phase project called Worthington Park began. When completed in 2019, Worthington Park will be a one-of-a-kind events center on the Olympic Peninsula.
Throughout all these phases, experienced professionals have donated their time and expertise to extensive aspects of the project, including but not limited to key architectural, structural, and landscaping undertakings.
Support Worthington Park:
Click Here to visit the Quilcene Historical Museum website and learn more about our mission.
Click Here to Download our 2022 Donor and Membership Card for cash or check dues or donations.
Alternatively, Click Here to Pay Dues or Make Donations via credit card.
All links open in a new tab.
Phases of Worthington Park's Restoration
Phase I
First, we launched the capital campaign to purchase the property in 2011. To our delight, we exceeded the goal of raising $300,000.00. Additional funds were put to good use by moving the mansion off its foundation for structural work (2013 – 2014) and returning it to its new foundation. Volunteers also built the Linger Longer Outdoor Theatre during this time; the value of a comparable structure would cost around $185,000.00. Since then, Linger Longer has hosted many special events ranging from concerts to weddings.
Phase II
Phase II marked the restoration of the mansion’s external facade and structure, including the complete removal and replacement of siding and the existing roof in 2016, following a fundraising campaign. We restored the mansion to its original 1892 design by strengthening the shear walls and construction of a third floor with a Mansard roof. Volunteers individually dipped over 9,000 roof shingles to complete the design. The “Raise the Roof” campaign – which began in 2014 and ran through 2015 – met its fundraising goal of $200,000.00 to complete external restoration. Phase II was completed in 2018.
Phase III
The renovation of the mansion interior began in 2018 and is currently in progress as of January 2019. Completed tasks include the removal and restoration of interior wall plastering, custom moldings, and woodwork. The original floors have been restored and finished. All rooms are now freshly painted with colors selected to represent different eras in the mansion’s heritage. Completion of this phase is expected by the end of Fall 2019.
Phase IV
Phase IV is dedicated to the interior furnishings for the mansion. In keeping with the color themes of each room, furnishings and decorations will be chosen in accordance with the different eras of the home’s early years, 1894-1934. We expect to complete Phase IV by our planned mansion opening date in Fall of 2019.
Phase V
Finally, we will focus on the improvement of all the mansion grounds and landscape, including renovations to the National Register 1915 barn and creation of a logging exhibit. This phase is expected to run through 2020.
Support Worthington Park:
Click Here to visit the Quilcene Historical Museum website and learn more about our mission.
Click Here to Download our 2022 Donor and Membership Card for cash or check dues or donations.
Alternatively, Click Here to Pay Dues or Make Donations via credit card.
All links open in a new tab.
