By Tara Sullivan, Tonasket Library
History doesn’t have to be boring, dusty or distant. I think it’s at its best when it’s personal—like a story told over coffee or a memory sparked by an old photo. That’s what makes the IRIS NCW Collection so special: it’s full of real voices from across our region, sharing memories that are heartfelt, funny, surprising, and deeply rooted in the communities of North Central Washington.
While the IRIS NCW Collection brings these voices to life, our other online resources illustrate a broader picture of our region’s history:
IRIS NCW: Stories That Connect Generations
The Initiative for Rural Innovation & Stewardship (IRIS) has collected hundreds of oral histories from folks all around North Central Washington. These tales—shared in the narrators’ own words—reflect the spirit, resilience, and diversity of our communities. From stories of early homesteaders to insights on cultural traditions, the IRIS NCW Collection serves as a vibrant archive of our region’s heritage.
Whether you’re tracing your family roots, working on a classroom project, or just curious about the people who have influenced our towns and landscapes, this collection provides a meaningful link to the past.
Dig into decades of local news with the Washington Digital Newspapers and Wenatchee World Archives.
These collections bring together more than 600,000 pages from Wshington’s earliest Territorial newspapers to the present day. Freely accessible to the public. They are a goldmine for uncovering community milestones, obituaries, and little-known stories.
Track how the land has evolved with U.S. Geological Survey Historical Topographic Maps and Washington State Geologic Maps. Perfect for researchers, hikers, or anyone interested in the natural history of our area.
The goal of The National Map’s Historical Topography Map Collection is to provide a digital repository of USGS maps — 1:250,000 scale and larger — between 1884 and 2006. The maps are to search through and download at no cost. The collection include more than 185,000 high-resolution digital files.
Head over to our Local History Online Resources page and explore the stories that have shaped North Central Washington. Let the voices from the past spark your curiosity—and perhaps inspire your future.
The resources page includes several newspaper archives, Washington Rural Heritage, Hispanic Life in America, and the Iris NCW page.
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