northwest carriage museum

The couple that operates this wonderful museum, makes everything a little more interesting because they share all the information they have researched on every carriage in the museum. He's even restored some of them. One of the carriages was actually in "Gone With the Wind"! A great stop along a rainy shore.

I am not one for many words, so this may be a bit short. I first went through this museum three years ago with a group and was amazed by the quality and how compelling a Carriage Museum could be. I couldn't stop talking about it when I got home. My wife couldn't understand what could be so cool about carriages until I took her and my teenage son last Spring. They were also impressed. Great Job!

Until you visit, you cannot believe that this incredible museum is nestled in the little town of Raymond. This is a must stop and see for any traveler on highway 101. Not only are there beautiful carriages and an abundance of history to enjoy, they also have a gift shop for one of a kind gifts, souvenirs or books.

The Carriage Museum is a "must see" for anyone that happens to be traveling near the little town of Raymond Washington. The carriages are wonderful and be sure to ask for a guided tour and you will receive a very in-depth history on the display. Next year, they plan to open a new addition to the museum with several new carriages and an OLD stagecoach with a long history of being used in movies. One carriage was used in the movie "Gone with the Wind."Admission is reasonable for everyone.They also do a lot of tours for school children that are able to wear old time clothing and sit in a wagon.The director and her husband are very eager to answer any questions that people have and are extremely knowledgeable about the history of the carriages.I highly recommend visiting this museum.

We drove to Raymond from Westport during our vacation just to see this museum, and it was well worth the trip - highly recommend!The carriages are amazing - I've never seen a collection like it. They are in pristine condition, and very well displayed. The signs are very informative, and there are carriages from a cross section of society. There is even a "hands-on" section for kids where they can sit in a one room school house, dress in period clothes, climb into a wagon, and even "drive" a wagon with a "talking" horse (no, not Mr. Ed but a mechanical horse figure that spoke the commands given to the horse and the meaning of the commands). There is also a very nice gift shop with a wide variety of items, from books to jewelry to toys (and more). Thank you to Mr. and Mrs. Dennis for this remarkable gift to the City of Raymond.

I never thought I'd find something like this in a small town. They have a lot of old carriages, all meticulously restored to "as new" condition. The size and condition of the collection is better than anything that I have seen in many large cities. It is absolutely world-class.The docent was very helpful and informative and clearly loved her work. She had answers to all the many questions that the other visitors and I asked. The interpretive signs were high quality and very informative and I learned a lot. I'm a history buff and spent a couple of hours reading every sign and looking at every detail and just loved it.They do a good job of explaining what the different kinds of vehicles were and how they were used and how they fit into the society. They had lots of stuff I have read about or seen mentioned but never saw before. For example, they have a Hansom cab for all you Sherlock Holmes fans.They have a children's area with some hands on exhibits for the kids (and young at heart adults).This was a private collection that was donated to the community. They have built a beautiful building to house it. Wooden floors and soft all around lighting show off the collection at its best. They should be very proud of what they have accomplished.I'd recommend a visit, whether you are a serious history buff like me or just looking for a way to get the kids out of the rain for a little while while they learn some history.They are slightly off the highway so you will need to turn up Alder Street (at a light). Look for the wagons in the parking lot to the south of Alder Street. Admission much cheaper than a Seattle attraction too: $4 for adults, $2 for kids 6-18 and younger free. Or $10 for a family. It is volunteer run and admissions supported. They are next to the Willapa Seaport Museum if you are looking for something else to do. (It's another good little museum too).

If you blink while driving through Raymond, you might miss this hidden treasure. It's a cool museum for sure. The museum is filled with carriages from an era gone by. I like it because you can be out in 20 minutes (if you have fidgeted kids) or you can stay and linger-either way you'll see everything. The employees are so friendly and will talk with you about any carriage. They were a fountain of information.

What a wonderful afternoon spent at the Northwest Carriage Museum while on vacation this summer! Informative and intriguing! Even with little knowledge of carriages upon entering, I enjoyed a fabulous tour and learned so much about these once named, “solution to pollution” vehicles. The museum itself is beautiful with period artifacts and displays, a whole room for children to explore and play, and a gift shop. I recommend picking up a couple bars of the Washington made soaps named after carriages in the museum!

We have been going to visit the Northwest Carriage Musuem for some time and we finally did so on our "Places We were Always Going to See and Never Trip". It is a hidden jewel in the small town of Raymond , Washington. We were greeted at the door by a docent as the museum is a non-profit organization. There is a small fee and I also left a donation as well.She guided us around the display of beautifully restored horse drawn carriages (and two sleighs), each with a story to tell from the days gone by. An incredible panorama from a hearse to elegant carriages. This is a great place for the entire family and if you are a history buff even better.

This is a jewel not to be missed! A very well done, professional museum with a lot of very interesting carriages...an unexpected treat!

My family visited this museum on our way back to Seattle after spending the weekend on the Oregon Coast. There were eight of us (ranging in age from 38 to 92). My aunt and uncle, who are avid horse lovers, thought this would be a great place to visit as an end to a celebration of my grandfather's 92nd birthday. My husband and I (the youngest of the group) were happily surprised at how much we all enjoyed the museum. The exhibits were all of very high quality, with a lot of great information given on the text boards. We also enjoyed the period artifacts spread throughout the museum. Best of all was the guide (unfortunately I did not catch her name) who was running the museum the day we were there. As we were the only guests at the moment, she gave us a wonderful tour full of true stories about each carriage and its original owner.