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New exhibition and documentary showcase the legacy of the Willits Brothers’ canoes

Derek Nguyen

Tue, Oct 1, 2024 4:00 PM

New exhibition and documentary showcase the legacy of the Willits Brothers’ canoes

Tacoma, WA – The Washington State History Museum is proud to share a part of Puget Sound history in a new exhibition titled Makers on the Tide: The Willits Brothers and their Handcrafted Canoes. It showcases the life, legacy, and craftsmanship of brothers Earl and Floyd Willits, who meticulously crafted over 900 canoes between 1908 and the mid-1960s. The highly regarded wooden canoes are considered to be some of the finest ever made. The exhibition will be on view from October 5, 2024, to February 16, 2025.

After moving from the Midwest as teenagers, the brothers constructed their first canoe while they were students at Tacoma High School. They devoted the remainder of their lives to perfecting a 17-foot cedar strip canoe model known as the "Artondale." In 1921, they purchased land for a workshop on Day Island in Tacoma, and in 1926, they formally founded the Willits Brothers Canoe Company.
"Like a fine musical instrument or a masterful timepiece, the Willits canoes were the most carefully crafted vessels the two men could build, and they hand built every one themselves," said historian Michael Sullivan in his Tacoma History article.

The exhibition will showcase three rare Willits Brothers canoes and historic photographs from the Tacoma Public Library's Northwest Room collection. A new Willits Brothers documentary by Tacoma filmmaker Mick Flaaen and historian Michael Sullivan will debut as part of the exhibition and be screened exclusively in the gallery throughout its run.

The public is invited to take part in a special premiere screeninghttps://www.washingtonhistory.org/event/makers-premiere/ of the Makers on the Tide documentary on Saturday, October 5, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Washington State History Museum. The screening will include a behind the scenes discussion with Flaaen and Sullivan. This event is free with registration.
For more information about Makers on the Tide: The Willits Brothers and Their Handmade Canoes and other offerings, visit washingtonhistory.orghttp://washingtonhistory.org/.

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About The Washington State Historical Society
The Washington State Historical Society partners with our communities to explore how history connects us all. The Society's most visible activity, the Washington State History Museum is located in downtown Tacoma on Pacific Avenue among a thriving cultural scene. The museum features interactive permanent exhibitions about Washington's past in the Great Hall, unique rotating exhibitions highlighting the Society's collections, and dynamic feature exhibitions, and hosts events and programs on a wide range of historical topics. The WSHS also offers curricula for teachers, and statewide educational support as well as consultation, support, and resources for museums and heritage organizations across the state.

Address: 1911 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98402
Hours: 10:00 AM–5:00 PM Tues.-Sun. Free monthly every third Thur. from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM Admission: FREE for members; Adults $14; seniors (age 65+), students (age 6-17) and military (with ID) $11; free for children 5 and under; family rate $40 (up to two adults and four children under age 18). Patrons with a Washington Quest card and licensed Washington Foster Parents can attend for $1 per person or $2 per family. FREE for active-duty military and up to 5 family members with ID as part of Blue Star Museums.

[A picture containing font, graphics, screenshot, design Description automatically generated]NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 1, 2024 MEDIA CONTACT: Derek Nguyen, Marketing and Communications Director, Washington State Historical Society, 253-317-1273 derek.nguyen@wshs.wa.gov<mailto:derek.nguyen@wshs.wa.gov> [cid:image006.png@01DB134D.F4CD5AF0] New exhibition and documentary showcase the legacy of the Willits Brothers’ canoes Tacoma, WA – The Washington State History Museum is proud to share a part of Puget Sound history in a new exhibition titled Makers on the Tide: The Willits Brothers and their Handcrafted Canoes. It showcases the life, legacy, and craftsmanship of brothers Earl and Floyd Willits, who meticulously crafted over 900 canoes between 1908 and the mid-1960s. The highly regarded wooden canoes are considered to be some of the finest ever made. The exhibition will be on view from October 5, 2024, to February 16, 2025. After moving from the Midwest as teenagers, the brothers constructed their first canoe while they were students at Tacoma High School. They devoted the remainder of their lives to perfecting a 17-foot cedar strip canoe model known as the "Artondale." In 1921, they purchased land for a workshop on Day Island in Tacoma, and in 1926, they formally founded the Willits Brothers Canoe Company. "Like a fine musical instrument or a masterful timepiece, the Willits canoes were the most carefully crafted vessels the two men could build, and they hand built every one themselves," said historian Michael Sullivan in his Tacoma History article. The exhibition will showcase three rare Willits Brothers canoes and historic photographs from the Tacoma Public Library's Northwest Room collection. A new Willits Brothers documentary by Tacoma filmmaker Mick Flaaen and historian Michael Sullivan will debut as part of the exhibition and be screened exclusively in the gallery throughout its run. The public is invited to take part in a special premiere screening<https://www.washingtonhistory.org/event/makers-premiere/> of the Makers on the Tide documentary on Saturday, October 5, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Washington State History Museum. The screening will include a behind the scenes discussion with Flaaen and Sullivan. This event is free with registration. For more information about Makers on the Tide: The Willits Brothers and Their Handmade Canoes and other offerings, visit washingtonhistory.org<http://washingtonhistory.org/>. # # # About The Washington State Historical Society The Washington State Historical Society partners with our communities to explore how history connects us all. The Society's most visible activity, the Washington State History Museum is located in downtown Tacoma on Pacific Avenue among a thriving cultural scene. The museum features interactive permanent exhibitions about Washington's past in the Great Hall, unique rotating exhibitions highlighting the Society's collections, and dynamic feature exhibitions, and hosts events and programs on a wide range of historical topics. The WSHS also offers curricula for teachers, and statewide educational support as well as consultation, support, and resources for museums and heritage organizations across the state. Address: 1911 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98402 Hours: 10:00 AM–5:00 PM Tues.-Sun. Free monthly every third Thur. from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM Admission: FREE for members; Adults $14; seniors (age 65+), students (age 6-17) and military (with ID) $11; free for children 5 and under; family rate $40 (up to two adults and four children under age 18). Patrons with a Washington Quest card and licensed Washington Foster Parents can attend for $1 per person or $2 per family. FREE for active-duty military and up to 5 family members with ID as part of Blue Star Museums.