What's Your Story?
If you’re willing to share your life story, Bainbridge History Museum is looking for you!
History Museum Launches Initiative to Collect Islanders’ Histories
In January 2026, the museum launched its Oral History Project, with the tagline, “One Island. Many Stories.”
“Our mission is to preserve, protect and share Bainbridge Island stories, understand our role in a broader history and understand where we fit within the history of our community, our region and our world,” said Lindsay Ogles, the museum’s director of exhibits and engagement. To that end, with funds from Rotary Club of Bainbridge Island, the museum has acquired 10 oral history kits. Each is about the size of a briefcase and contains a recorder, data storage cards, headphones, simple instructions and a series of cards with basic starter questions, such as “Why did you move to Bainbridge Island?”
The kits may be checked out to record your own history or to allow a friend or family member to conduct the interview. BHM also has staff or volunteers who can perform interviews at the museum or in the comfort of your home.
“One of the biggest barriers historians encounter,” Ogles said, “is that people say things like, ‘I’m not that interesting. I’m not famous. Why would anyone want to hear my story?’ Every story is important. I want people to recognize the value of their own history and I want us to preserve and share those stories with future generations.”
Once collected, the life stories are stored in a database called PastPerfect, touted as the world’s leader in museum collection and contact management software. The database can be viewed by museums worldwide and is accessible at bainbridgehistory.org
>>For more information about sharing your story, volunteering or getting trained in collecting histories, contact admin@bainbridgehistory.org or stop by the museum 215 Ericksen Avenue NE.
