ALHFAM Western US Regional Conference 2026
What Works in the West
September 18 -20, 2026 in Snoqualmie, Washington
The Western Region is a special place; our histories are many and diverse. In this regional ALHFAM conference, we will explore some of these cultures through sessions and site visits. We’ll learn how Snoqualmie area sites are reclaiming land, interpreting pioneer farming history, conserving railroad history and recreating the Middle Ages. We will learn about partnerships and funding models that are helping to make King County a vibrant destination. Our sessions will examine how primary resources can help us to improve programming for our visitors and how to coordinate volunteers across a wide geographical area.
Program
Friday evening
5pm - 7pm “Salted, Smoked, and Pickled” Reception at Snoqualmie Valley Museum
320 Bendigo Blvd S, North Bend, WA 98045
www.Snoqualmie Valley Museum.org
For this informal potluck reception, you are invited to share a salted, smoked, or pickled appetizer from your area. The Museum collects, preserves, and shares the history of the Snoqualmie Valley so present and future generations can understand our past. Join us in learning a bit about valley history and seeing the progress in our exciting small capital project!
Saturday
8:30am Keynote - Snoqualmie Casino and Hotel
9:30am – 12:00pm Sessions - Snoqualmie Casino and Hotel
12:00pm Lunch (Jersey Mike’s subs)
1:00pm Snoqualmie Tribe Culture Department talk at Snoqualmie Casino and Hotel followed by visit to Snoqualmie Prairie/Meadowbrook Farm
Meadowbrook Farm Preserve
1711 Boalch Avenue Northwest
North Bend, WA 98045
www.meadowbrookfarmpreserve.org/
Meadowbrook Farm sits on what was the Snoqualmie Prairie, the largest traditionally tended prairie in the Valley for thousands of years. The farm developed into the World's Largest Hop Ranch and then a dairy farm. Today, Meadowbrook Farm is 460 acres of scenic and historic public open space on the Snoqualmie Valley floor, located within the cities of Snoqualmie and North Bend.
3:30pm - 7:00pm Northwest Railway Museum Train Ride (4:05 departure)
Northwest Railway Museum
9312 Stone Quarry Rd
Snoqualmie, WA 98065
www.TrainMuseum.org
We’ll visit Northwest Railway Museum where you can experience how “The Railway Changed Everything”. We’ll board the train at 4:05pm for an experience on the interpretive railway, followed by an educator-led experience at the Railway History Campus. Tour the Train Shed Exhibit Hall, the Conservation and Restoration Workshop, for a first-hand look at current restoration projects while also enjoying hors d’oeuvres.
Still hungry? Either head into Snoqualmie or North Bend to enjoy local establishments or head back to the Casino for half a dozen different dining options.
8:00pm Hospitality Suite open
Sunday
9:00am Sessions - Snoqualmie Casino and Hotel
10:00am Depart for the Lower Valley
11:00am Carnation Farms Site Visit
Carnation Farms
28901 NE Carnation Farm Rd, Carnation, WA 98014
https://carnationfarms.org/
Step into the legacy of Carnation Farms, from our 1908 origins as a pioneering dairy to our evolution into a nonprofit hub for regenerative agriculture, food education and community. We envision a thriving and resilient regional food system rooted in regenerative farming, humane animal care and thriving rural economies. As a nonprofit farm and learning center, our programs empower people to connect with the land, their food and one another.
12:00pm Dougherty Farmstead visit and lunch in Duvall
Dougherty Farmstead
26526 NE Cherry Valley Rd, Duvall, WA 98019
www.duvallhistoricalsociety.org
The Dougherty Farmstead is one of Duvall's most treasured historic sites, showcasing some of the oldest standing structures in the Snoqualmie River Valley. Recognized for its historic significance, the farmstead was designated a landmark by the King County Landmarks Preservation Board in 1983 and the State of Washington in 2004; it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
2:00pm Depart for Camlann site visit
2:30pm Visit Camlann
Camlann Medieval Village
10320 Kelly Rd NE, Carnation, WA 98014
https://www.camlann.org/
Welcome to Camlann Medieval Village, a living history museum project where you can explore daily life in a small rural village in southwest England in 1376 CE. Camlann Medieval Village offers feasts to celebrate medieval holidays, each featuring a unique menu of medieval recipes and a program of medieval entertainment appropriate to the occasion.
You are invited to “dress” for the evening event, in whatever era you are most comfortable in.
5:00pm Feast at Camlann/Depart at 7:00
8:30pm Hospitality Suite open
Please note: Conference attendees should plan to carpool to site visits. If you will have a car and are willing to share rides, or if you will need rides, please let one of our committee members know.
Conference Committee:
Kay Demlow, Western Region Co-Chair, Kay@lavendersgreen.com
Ava Martin, Western Region Co-Chair, avakatenisqually@msn.com
Cristy Lake, Local/Site Arrangements, Cristy@SnoqualmieValleyMuseum.org
Hosted at Snoqualmie Casino and Hotel:
We have reserved a block of double queen rooms for our conference attendees at a rate of $299 per night. When you contact the hotel, be sure to mention the ALHFAM conference with your reservation.
37500 SE North Bend Way
Snoqualmie, WA 98065
https://www.snocasino.com/
Snoqualmie Tribe
https://snoqualmierightsday.snoqualmietribeweb.us/
Thank you to 4Culture for their generous support of the 2026 ALHFAM Western Regional Conference. 4Culture provides funding and support for the cultural work that makes King County vibrant.
4Culture helps communities recognize, preserve and explore our shared heritage - in all the places where the past meets the present.
https://www.4culture.org/
