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audience that often has never had the opportunity to visit previously due to timing. On Sunday,
<br />September 4, 2016, we had a total of 30 visitors. Of these, 27 were new to the Museum (not having
<br />visited before), and 3 had only been visited once before. Most thanked us for providing a different
<br />time to visit. We are also allowing for later closures depending on visitation to the Museum (not fully
<br />closing until 4:30 or 5:00pm). We also provide an evening venue for events and meetings. Further
<br />hour changes are being discussed for 2017 to coincide with more events, including Girls Night Out,
<br />Buskers in the Burg, and more, in addition to taking a more visible presence in the community by
<br />hosting booths at events throughout the County.
<br />By continuing to build on a successful model, we plan to attract a new audience that has had an
<br />increased interest in the Kittitas County Historical Museum, Ellensburg, and Kittitas County.
<br />Through the months of June to August 2016, we have had a noticeable increase in visitors from the
<br />Seattle -Tacoma area and the Portland area. Whether it was indicated in print or verbally, we found
<br />that most of these visitors were day-trippers (-75%) with another destination, such as Spokane or
<br />British Columbia. Others (-25%) were staying overnight in Ellensburg while attending an event or
<br />activity and visiting the downtown. By advertising to these markets, we are targeting a demographic
<br />already predisposed to visit the museum. These individuals are already interested in history and are
<br />more apt to visit the museum and local attractions. By producing the advertising, we will be able to
<br />add more information and an overall access and view of the museum to the advertising which may
<br />attract more visitors.
<br />With a program building on the success of television advertising and social media marketing, we can
<br />increase visits to the museum, Ellensburg, and Kittitas County. By the increased attendance and gift
<br />shop sales, along with possible museum memberships, this will provide further sustainability and
<br />allow for the museum to host a wider array of events, public programming, classes and educational
<br />opportunities, exhibits, and more, as well as draw many folks in from throughout the Pacific
<br />Northwest. At present, we have had success in drawing visitors to our events from the Tri -Cities,
<br />Renton, Spokane, northeastern Oregon (Umatilla area), and Wenatchee.
<br />Additionally, we have seen visitor interest in a walking tour. Throughout the summer months, we had
<br />an increase in questions for maps of a self -guided walking tour and for guided walking tours at the
<br />rate of approximately 7-15 per week. We provided approximately 50 copies of information about
<br />buildings throughout downtown Ellensburg and Cle Elum among answering other Kittitas County
<br />related questions and providing brochures and flyers. During our slower times, we have responded to
<br />3-5 requests per week for self -guided walking tour information, building information, or questions
<br />about guided tours. It is known that walking tours (guided and self -guided) are very popular in
<br />neighboring counties and communities, such as Seattle, Bellingham, Spokane, and Walla Walla, and
<br />this will add another draw for visitors into the local area.
<br />We additionally had visitors and parents request scavenger hunts as ways to engage with history in a
<br />different context. We have had an extremely successful scavenger hunt program in the museum as
<br />both a visitor activity and for educational guests (such as local K-12 students). Due to this interest,
<br />we would like to expand into the downtown Ellensburg scavenger hunt.
<br />Our confirmed hotel stays have been the result of events hosted by the museum (lecture series), along
<br />with researchers and groups that use the museum. These numbers have been confirmed via email and
<br />through hotel rooms reserved for the lecture series by the museum. We have confirmed upcoming
<br />stays by three researchers (2 hotel stays), four lecturers (4 hotel stays), and two individuals (3 nights
<br />per each = 6 stays). It is our expectation with being an added benefit, that while it may not create the
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