History

  Northeast Washington was once all called Stevens County.  Its human history goes back to the melting of the Ice sheets 11,000 years ago.  For a period four times longer than that between the present and the Roman Empire, Sinixt Tribes held Kettle Falls and the surrounding area as a sacred fishing ground. Having mountains, game, water and minerals, the area was settled long before Grand Coulee Dam changed the whole of the Columbia Basin into arable land.
   Since 2010, Map Metrics has participated in building the Stevens County Crossroads on the Columbia Digital Archive.  Along with it's companion site Crossroadsarchive.net, these two sites contain interpretation and links to nearly 22,000 documents and pictures from the museums of Historic Stevens County.  There are also opportunities to help in expanding these holdings and our understanding of them.
   The Internet offers multiple ways to collaborate in researching historical information.  Locally, Map Metrics is teaming up with the Heritage Network in several efforts to preserve local history and make it accessible to everyone.  The largest treasure trove of information is currently located with the Northeast Washington Genealogical Society.  An older project with the SCHS began the Old Towns Project.  This map of 119 old towns in Stevens County on this website links to stories and pictures of many of those towns.
    The Museums Tour Map shows NE Washington with links to 21 museums and related historical sites that participate in the Heritage Network.