HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 2024-4666, by Representatives Stearns, Chopp,
Mosbrucker, Fitzgibbon, Pollet, Ryu, Leavitt, Goodman, and Callan
1 WHEREAS, The Burke Museum was founded in 1885 by the Young
2 Naturalists' Society, a group of curious teenagers inspired by seeing
3 Seattle transform before their eyes, and has built upon this legacy,
4 collecting objects and artifacts that help us understand how the
5 Northwest has grown and changed; and
6 WHEREAS, On March 6, 1899, the Washington State Legislature first
7 designated the Burke Museum the State Museum of Washington as "a
8 depository for the preservation and exhibition of documents and
9 objects possessing an historical value, of materials illustrating the
10 fauna, flora, anthropology, mineral wealth, and natural resources of
11 the state, and for all documents and objects whose preservation will
12 be of value to the student of history and the natural sciences"; and
13 WHEREAS, Since that time, the Burke Museum has had the great
14 honor to share and care for more than 18 million fossils, cultural
15 items, and specimens from the Pacific Northwest and beyond; and
16 WHEREAS, Today, the Burke Museum continues to serve Washington
17 state by providing hands-on science and culture education, conducting
18 original research and establishing baseline data, preserving our
19 shared heritage, and providing tools for state and federal agencies;
20 and
21 WHEREAS, The Burke Museum education programs use authentic
22 materials and specimens to inspire learners of all ages to ask
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 1 questions about the world around us, foster curiosity, and create
2 wonder; and
3 WHEREAS, Students, researchers, artists, and community members
4 draw on the collections to build knowledge of our world and address
5 challenges facing communities in the Pacific Northwest and around the
6 globe; and
7 WHEREAS, The Burke Museum's research and programs partner with
8 institutions, communities, and people around the world to understand
9 our past and create positive change in the future; and
10 WHEREAS, The Burke Museum maintains relationships with
11 communities and tribes to preserve the ingenuity, creativity,
12 science, and complex knowledge of natural and cultural resources,
13 acknowledging they are the caretakers while tribes and community
14 members are the experts; and
15 WHEREAS, Thousands of people have championed the work of the
16 Burke Museum through the years, including visitors, tribal nations,
17 and an inclusive group of researchers, enabling the museum to
18 continue to share collections so all people can learn, be inspired,
19 generate knowledge, feel joy, and heal;
20 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives
21 recognize the cultural and scientific contributions of the Burke
22 Museum and celebrate its 125th Anniversary as the official State
23 Museum of Washington.
24
25 I hereby certify this to be a true and correct copy of
26 Resolution 4666 adopted by the House of Representatives
27 February 16, 2024
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32 __________________________
33 Bernard Dean, Chief Clerk
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