Museums are one of our favorite things. We love them almost as much as thrift stores. And small-town museums are the best.

This is part of our 100 Things in 2016 challenge. Here’s the full list.

We’re spending Christmas Eve, Christmas, and Boxing Day in a cabin in the woods near South Bend, Washington, and in the town proper is the Pacific County Historical Society and Museum. Their collection is small, but extremely well-maintained. Their player piano is even the same model that Becky learned to play on!

As always, this small-town museum is a fascinating lens into the history of a place that used to be something else. The historical industries are what you’d expect – shipping, lumber, oysters – and this town isn’t shy about having pride in its roots.