ABOUT US
Our non-profit museum opened in 2002 as a result of a generous donation of 21 horse-drawn vehicles from the family of Gary & Cec Dennis. We thank the entire Dennis family for their generous support over the years. During the past 20+ years, the museum has grown to over 65 vehicles and thousands of period artifacts, making it one of the finest collections in the country. This growth can be attributed to Jerry and Laurie Bowman's dedication and love of history, as well as their commitment to the surrounding community. The "world-class" collection housed in the museum is visited annually by thousands of people from all over the world and has grown to become the area's largest year-round tourist attraction and visitor center. Visitors say we are a "must-see" when visiting the Pacific Northwest, and we agree! Open daily and family-friendly, we invite you to "Come Get Carried Away" at the beautiful and historic Northwest Carriage Museum.
Restoration & History
The NWCM has become an information resource center for horse-drawn restoration and historical information.
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Many vehicles in the collection have been fully restored to their original elegant beauty. Other vehicles have gone through a “conservation” process where original paint, pin striping, trim (upholstery) and lettering are saved and preserved.
Determination as to restoring versus conserving is based on many factors including condition, historical significance, labor, and costs. Since our collection contains both restored and conserved vehicles, visitors get the best of both worlds… Come take a look!
For research, restoration, and collection inquiries, CONTACT US.
Our Mission
The Northwest Carriage Museum preserves, maintains and interprets the collection of horse drawn vehicles and period artifacts of the 19th century.
We are home to over sixty-five beautiful horse-drawn vehicles including carriages, buggies, wagons and sleighs, and more than a thousand historical artifacts that help bring history to life and create a cultural experience.
We are dedicated to keeping history alive for future generations, educating about horse-drawn transportation, restoration and conservation of the vehicles and supporting our local community.
Press & Media
We have been fortunate to receive many wonderful opportunities for exposure in the press and on various media outlets over the years. We have recently been mentioned on:
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- Global Heroes
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~ Portland KOIN's Everyday Northwest
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~ Seattle Times Museum Guide
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~ Northwest Horse Source
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~ Aberdeen's 94.7FM "Timber Country"
Community Connections
We love to partner with our community, other museums, history-focused organizations, and small businesses throughout the Pacific Northwest!
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We thank all of those businesses and organizations from which we've received support over the years!
Please click the button below to explore all the great places in our network to eat, shop, stay, and more!
