Lacey Historical Commission advances historic markers map project 

The City of Lacey is developing a public online map to make its historic markers easier to find and explore. 

The map will place marker locations and visitor information in one digital resource. The Lacey Historical Commission took up the issue and moved the project toward a first draft at a meeting on Aug. 19. 

Lacey Museum Curator Erin Quinn Valcho said Phase 1 of the map will feature historic markers, including interpretive markers, monuments and plaques. Public art will not be included, while utility wraps are excluded because the wraps already appear on a publicly available city map. 

Historic sites without an educational component are also outside the phase, though anything identified later can be added to a future phase. 

The current inventory contains 22 entries: 

• Andrew Jackson Chambers Homestead Site 

• Himes and Fleetwood Homestead Site 

• From Chambers to Chalet 

• Lacey Plywood Plant Historic Site 

• Lacey Train Depot Historic Site 

• Lacey Rotary Club 

• Jackson Family/Goose Pond History 

• Regional Athletic Complex History Kiosk 

• Chambers Block House 

• Fort Eaton Monument 

• Willamette Meridian Marker 

• Clearbrook Park Marker 

• Russell House 

• Ruddell Pioneer Cemetery 

• Groom Turner House 

• Gallagher House 

• Huntamer House 

• Lacey Women’s Club 

• Taylor House 

• Lacey Civic Plaza 

• She-Nah-Nam Monument 

• Heritage Hall 

Mapping area 

The project will include Lacey city limits and the Lacey Urban Growth Area (UGA). Locations outside Lacey can also be considered case by case, giving the commission the option to include sites relevant to local history. 

The geographic area goes west to the Olympia-Lacey boundary and north to Puget Sound. It goes east to the Nisqually River and south to the tip of the city limit. Valcho said including areas outside the UGA will allow tribal history associated with Lacey to be part of the project. 

The city has chosen a "story map" format, an interactive page pairing a map with photos and background information for each site. Valcho showed commissioners examples from Bernalillo County, New Mexico and Thurston County Historic Register. 

Users can select a marker to view its photo and location information. The map can also connect users to an outside navigation service for directions. For people who cannot visit the sites, commissioners said the resource can also serve as a virtual tour of Lacey history. 

Visitor access 

Volunteers will now help verify marker locations and gather information about access and parking. They will also collect photos so users can identify the sites. 

Valcho said the information will help visitors plan ahead and avoid parking on private property, an issue commissioners noted is more likely to arise near markers in residential areas. 

"How long are they going to have to walk? That sort of thing, and a photo," Valcho said. "We'd like there to be a photo so people know what they're looking for." 

Commissioner David Shipley volunteered to assist with site verification. Meanwhile, Commission Chair Kevin Wyckoff and Commissioner Gary Montgomery will work on the story map as that information is collected. 

The project could return to the commission in October with a draft map. Valcho said the material must be ready by Oct. 7 for staff to prepare it for the meeting.