Palouse Science and History Museum: Tim Hill seeking donations to launch museum

When Tim Hill moved to Whitman County with his wife and six kids in 2013, his first thought of Colfax was how cool and beautiful he found the area.

“I wake up every day and think this is way better than Tampa,” he said.

Hill lived in Tampa Bay, Fla., until his wife, Cara, was offered a job as a professor of engineering at WSU. Hill said he loves the culture of the area and immediately fell in love with it.

“I have never seen so many steep hills,” he said. “I can look out my window and see what looks like an ocean of greens and browns.

It wasn't long after the family's cross-country move that Hill had the idea to bring a museum to Colfax so others could learn the rich history of the area.

“One thing I have heard a lot is it takes an outsider to appreciate what we have,” he said. “I really want to highlight what it is about this area that we should appreciate.”

Hill has been in the process to launch the museum, located at 114 S. Main Street, for about a year. In order to see the museum come to life, he is now turning to the community for help.

Over the last year, he has been able to collect several items for display in the museum, called the Palouse Museum of Science and History, but he does not have enough yet.

“I am looking for things that I can put on display from the community,” he said. “I will take anything that I can put on display to fill up the museum. I just do not have enough stuff to open the doors yet.”

Hill said some of the items he has right now include rocks and fossils, photographs from area photographer Alison Meyer, a copy of the first Gazette and the 1948 Harley Davidson police motorcycle, which the community rallied to help him purchase.

Hill said his current space, which is located next to Colfax Security, does not accommodate the motorcycle, but he is hoping for a larger space in the future.

“I am looking for a larger building where a motorcycle or some of the larger items can be displayed,” he said.

Hill has also recently obtained the rights to the film “Palouse Paradise,” which is a 26-minute documentary produced by Idaho Public Television about the Palouse area. He plans to show that movie in the museum.

Hill said he has been to museums in communities in Whitman County and feels it is time for the county seat to have its own museum.

“We ought to have a museum highlighting the awesomeness that we are,” he said. “I am trying to enrich the culture in Whitman County that highlights the beauty of the area.”

When the museum does open, Hill said admission at first will be by donation.

“I'm not looking to make a huge profit,” he said.

Hill hopes to have the museum opened as soon as possible.

“By the end of this year would be nice,” he said. “I'm just looking for some community support to get it started.”

Hill said anyone interested in donating should contact him. Items can be dropped off at the museum location, but he does encourage calling ahead just in case he is not there.

He can be reached via phone at 509-295-7989 or e-mail: [email protected].