About the Anderson Island Historical Society
Preserve, Present, and Engage - 50 years!

The Anderson Island Historical Society (AIHS) is a group of Anderson Island residents who work to preserve and present the history of Anderson Island, and engage the island community. We are a 501(c)(3) organization, incorporated in Washington State. We have been in operation since 1975, over fifty years.

Together with support from the community, we:

• Own and maintain the historic Johnson Farm, including its historic farmhouse and barn, and the new Archival Building.
• Sponsor and produce multiple community events throughout the year, including monthly potlucks and programs, and Farm Day in the spring, the Salmon Bake in the summer, the Apple Squeeze in the fall, and the Holiday Open House in the winter.
• Operate the historic Johnson Farmhouse, and eight other farm buildings, as a museum with multiple exhibits, open weekends throughout the summer.
• Maintain the Archival Building and other farm facilities as a community event venue.
• Operate a gift shop.
• Provide forty community gardens and a weekly garden market in the summer.
• Produce movies and documents that highlight Anderson Island history.

We are an all-volunteer organization, featuring:

• Over 300 annual family memberships (in 2025)
• A 10-member board of directors
• A weekly work-party with over 30 volunteers
• A volunteer community of over 100 people
• An annual operating budget of about $50,000

HISTORY
The Historical Society was founded in 1975 by a handfull of islanders who wanted to preserve the Johnson Farm, which dates back to 1896. In 1896, John Johnson and his wife Alma Marie bought 40 acres on credit from islander Bengt Johnson. They paid for the farm by cutting cordwood for Bengt, which he sold to the many steamers that sailed in Puget Sound. The Johnsons had two sons, Oscar and Rudolf, and two daughters, Alida and Ruth. Alma Marie died in 1907, but John and the family continued to work the farm, and it prospered. In its heyday, the farm had as many as 5000 chickens, besides a small herd of dairy cattle. When John died in 1924, their two sons, Rudolf and Oscar, continued to operate and improve the farm. They never married, and lived on the farm until their deaths. When they passed away in the early 1970's, John Johnson's granddaughter Alma Ruth Laing inherited the farm. The farm had become a marginal enterprise, with little economic value, but great historical value to islanders. To preserve the farm, a group of islanders incorporated the Anderson Island Historical Society in October, 1975, and Alma Ruth donated most of the farm to the new organization, to serve as a museum and memorial to the Johnsons and other island pioneers. Later, John and Karen Park donated an additional 20 acres of the original farm.
Click for a more detailed history of the farm and AIHS
Video: Johnson Farm Story

TODAY
Today, some fifty years after its founding, the volunteers of the society have restored most of the original 14 buildings on the site to something like their original glory, including the lovely farmhouse, water tower, palatial barn, and two impressive 'Shoup' Chicken Houses, which were the state-of-the-art in the 1920's. Visitors to the museum can stroll through the lovely community gardens, inspect dozens of antique farm implements, and shop at the gift store nestled in one of the old chicken houses. In recent years the islanders have built an Archival Building to house the Society's collection of artifacts and memorabilia documenting the history of Anderson Island. Visitors on any Wednesday morning will find volunteers busily maintaining the buildings and grounds of the museum, a nd the Historical Society's website posts information about the many annual events held at Johnson Farm, including Farm Day (on the Saturday of Memorial Day), the Salmon Bake (on the Saturday closest to the 4th of July), apple cider squeezes in the fall, and a Holiday Open House on the first Sunday of December. Anderson Island is reached by Pierce County Ferry from the town of Steilacoom. Check on- line by googling Pierce County Ferries for sailing times and ticketing.
Click for a more detailed history of the Historical Society (pdf)

OUR MISSION

The Anderson Island Historical Society provides a view of the lifestyle of living on an island in the southern-most part of Puget Sound by preserving local culture, thereby enabling present and future generations to learn about and maintain the heritage of this unique style of living. To accomplish this mission the society will:

• Educate the public about the island’s historical significance in the south sound and advocate the preservation of the symbols that demonstrate that significance.
• Operate the historical Johnson Farm as a museum and collect, preserve, interpret and exhibit materials that exemplify the history of Anderson Island and the surrounding area according to the Collections Policy of the Society.
• Identify, restore and maintain historical structures, as well as preserve the memories of longtime residents.
• Nurture and Engage the Anderson Island Community through island events.

MORE INFORMATION
AIHS Brochure
The farm, museum, and gift shop
Volunteering
Contact Us
Becoming a member


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