Behind the Sign

In a display of old yearbooks at the Anacortes History Museum, there was one in particular that caught my eye: the 1934 “Rhododendron.” What was most immediately remarkable about it was its cover material, which appropriately for the Pacific Northwest was fashioned from wood rather than paper. Opening it was like unsealing a wood grained time capsule into which I peered briefly at the life of its former owner, Jeannette Wilson.

This is the story of an important step in restoring some balance to our historical notions of who we are as Skagitonians. It started with a visit to the Sedro-Woolley Museum from a woman whose husband had discovered an artifact that, according to museum president and executive director JoEllen Kesti, “turned out to be not only rare but of cultural significance.” That discovery culminated in the August 19, 2023 unveiling of a new museum exhibit dedicated to the history of the Upper Skagit Tribe before a standing room only gathering of not only tribal members, but those of the broader Skagit Valley community as well.

In a recent Tales of the Magic Skagit episode we introduced you to Morgan White, Meyer Sign’s very first intern in our “Skagit Valley Youth History Project.” For her first assignment, I asked Morgan to interview some of the artists who were part of this year’s Northwest Art Beat Studio Tour (NW Art Beat), and she came back with stories about five very talented Skagitonians whose work ranges from jewelry to painting, clay sculpture, and print making. Followers of Meyer Sign and Tales of the Magic Skagit, I give you Morgan White!