A rendering by Architect David Clark of the new Highline Heritage Museum was released this week.

The museum will be located on the corner of Ambaum Blvd. SW and SW 152nd Street in Olde Burien, and will serve the communities of Burien, SeaTac, Normandy Park and White Center.

The new 6900 square foot museum will be located on prime property owned by the Highline Historical Society, in an area that teems with pedestrian and shopping activity. Drivers who are stopped at the traffic signal will be able to see into the shopping area of the building and notice several windows of changing exhibits.

“We are creating a ‘green museum,'” organizers said. “Just as a museum preserves our history and the curator’s team carefully tends papers and artifacts, the new museum will set standards of environmental stewardship by using earth friendly materials, a solar roof, energy efficient glass, water efficient features and LED lighting.”

Here’s more info from the Highline Historical Society:

Do you know that Highline is the largest geographical area in Washington State
The 32-square miles of communities known as “Highline” house a growing population of 160,000 people.
Within Highline’s borders are the vibrant cities of Burien, Des Moines, Normandy Park, SeaTac, and unincorporated White Center.

This region represents cultures as diverse as any in the State of Washington. Many Highline citizens are minorities; some that have been in the region for many years, as well as new immigrant populations.
Highline’s heritage is multi-faceted. It sparkles with stories of people who sh its shores, farm its elds, carve its roads, build its towns, form its businesses, work its industries, sing in its places of worship, a end its schools, and give birth to new genera ons. Through the lens of Highline’s heritage, we nd ourselves in images, role models, and experiences that lend insight into our present lives and inform how we view the future.

Whether we are nine, nineteen or ninety- ve, this sense of belonging has the power to inspire. This holds true for residents of Highline’s unique neighborhoods, employees commu ng to area businesses, or tourists just spending a few hours in town between ights at Sea-Tac.
It is time to celebrate the heritage of the people of Highline. The Society understands that for the individuals of Highline, heritage is personal. It’s about you and the many gifts passed on to you by your family, your culture and your community. It’s what we do with our heritage that makes history and builds a stronger community.

By working together, we can create our Highline, our Heritage and our Museum – a collective gift to the people of our region.

The new museum is expected to open in late 2016.

For more information, visit http://www.highlinehistory.org

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24 replies on “Rendering of Olde Burien’s new Highline Heritage Museum released”

  1. I’m excited to see this finally happening. Not a fan of the faces on the exterior though. Faces don’t change much through time – especially close up. Yes I know the people represented probably made our history to a large extent, but I’d rather see images of what used to be here – stores, schools, the trolley – that kind of thing. Things I can point out to my kids and tell them about as we walk by.

    1. I’m also not sure I like what’s going on above the awning and would suggest a different design for the signage. I think in general the facade treatment could be improved to still stand out but also relate better to the Olde Burien character of smaller storefronts. For example, possibly treat the corner entry portion of the building a little differently in color and material than the rest of the facade. Overall, it is very positive to see this moving forward. Also glad to hear it will be a green building!

  2. Is this where Hot Feet Yoga is located ?
    If so that location seems cursed for any business looking to be around a while.

        1. Cross fit had all their members take a break from staring in the mirror and posting personal bests to actually pick up the building and move it to their new location. That was a personal best for all the members!

    1. Why do you comment on something when you have no idea where the museum is located! It is NOT the location you state! Why don’t you try to be positive and support our community of Burien and positive development? Do you even live in this community…me thinks not. The Museum will be a positive addition or do you think it is low income housing as you tried to allude to with the $90 million investment in the Legacy/Merrill Gardens projects….you obviously have another agenda and I am glad you are not part ob Burien!

      1. Odd someone by the name of can’t believe posted a similar message on the article about the container boxes. Only the intersection is mentioned so it’s kinda hard to tell Witch property is own by the historical society. Now in the comments there someone name Peter mentioned something about Merrill gardens and low-income housing. But I did not see that mentioned in the comments here. Just a question on the location of the museum.

      2. Mellow out, 152nd and Ambaum has four corners to choose from. I had it narrowed down to the West side of the street which turns out to be correct. BTW, I grew up around here and currently live in SE Burien in my own home and support local business as much as possible so your totally wrong.

  3. Oh god….no offense to the architect but this looks so tacky. Ol’ Burien has a old timey charm to it and this looks…well…like a retirement home…

  4. It looks awful and doesn’t belong in olde Burien at all. Olde Burien is for quaint shops, boutiques, and restaurants. Not a tacky museum. It should have gone on 153rd.
    Ouch.

    1. To clarify, it is a renovation, not demolition. It was will start soon. We will be updating progress as it is made.

  5. Am I the only whom finds it odd that a historical museum, is going to replace the old, perhaps historical, movie theater?
    That we need faces, of whom? Outside George Ouellet Burian (or any variation there of), whose face really does need to be of such importance as to grace the outside of a historical building?

  6. I am not a fan of the faces either – I think it can be a better facade and be a great entrance to old Burien keeping with that detail and make welcoming….keeping the old but also bringing in some new. I am looking forward to having this in our neighborhood – is that the right location, not sure – but those working on the society have done a great job and worked tirelessly to bring this to our neighborhood.

  7. Please tell me, what important historical event took place here? What famous people come from here? What is going to be in this museum that couldn’t be handled with a web site? Don’t misunderstand. I love, go to and support all sorts of museums, but even as a lifer in Burien I cannot fathom what this is about, other than some addition to our civic image. Will this museum pay taxes on the property in ‘downtown’? I haven’t heard.

    1. Carol, as history museum doesn’t have to be about earth-shaking world events or famous people. There is a lot to be learned about the past from the common citizen. Common citizens like us who dealt with the Great Depression, WWII, the change from a rural to suburban setting, the influx of different cultures – these are all things that make up our now history and a chance for everyone to see what and who came before what they see now. And how much better for kids especially to see the real deal than just look at a website.

  8. For those that are curious about the plans for the museum and the exhibits they’ve been designing, right now you can view posters in the window with images and explanations. Afterwards, “shop local” by continuing your stroll to one of our nearby shops or restaurants and applaud the efforts of many around Burien that add to our community through these, and similar, efforts.

  9. I recognize Jerry Robinson as one of the faces! Where is Ivan Phillips face? I do not care for the faces either. They could have been put inside on a display wall. Also,these people do not exactly look like pioneers to me. Something more artistic, & colorful, would be a better choice to draw people in.

  10. Thanks for your feedback. We have been energized by the many readers, members and donors from all over Highline that support this addition to our region. Feel free to contact any member of the Highline Historical Society Board of Trustees (www.highlinehistory.org) to answer your questions about the project.

    1. Will there be a full accounting of how the 1 million dollar King County grant is being spent available to the public at the museum?

  11. I thought the city of Burien was trying to do away with billboard type advertising.Tthe display of personages she be respectfully done inside the Museum. One word to describe this, UGH.

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