The first "museums" in America were places exhibiting the exotic, unusual, and even grisly. They were often called Cabinets of Curiosities, and they displayed anything that would astound and awe a public that had little knowledge of foreign lands and people. Mariners and others who did have access to faraway places (including the wild and untamed American West) brought back all sorts of items of bizarre interest—the mummy, the two-headed calf, the jackalope, and the like. Imagine a building stuffed with such rare artifacts and an entrepreneur ready to capitalize on the public's fascination with the weird and unusual.

The Yakima Valley Museum has been the recipient of many "curiosities" since its founding in 1951. Our donors may not have been sailors and explorers, but many did travel extensively to remote places. Thus, the Museum will open its own Cabinet of Curiosities, filled with mounted birds and animals from around the world, cultural items from exotic lands, seashells and other natural wonders, and all manner of curious things.

We are celebrating this newest attraction with a gala banquet.
I would be honored by your presence at this grand and curious feast.
—John A. Baule, Esq.