WA State Historical Society releases ‘Black Washington’ app in time for Juneteenth holiday
If you’re curious about the history of Black Washingtonians, a new Tacoma-based organization recently finished a new phone application just for that.
The Washington State Historical Society in Tacoma released its “Black Washington: Stories, Landmarks, and Icons” app to the public for free on Thursday, just ahead of Juneteenth. At launch, the software features more than 50 entries that include human profiles, landmarks and stories about the vibrant history of Black Americans in the Evergreen State.
Entries on the app include a plethora of multimedia elements like photos, maps, music, videos and oral history, according to a news release from the historical society. The organization is planning to add new entries to its educational platform over time.
Educators will also have access to curriculum plans in the app to use in their class lessons, Derek Nguyen, marketing and communications director with the historical society, told The News Tribune via email. The state historical society hopes teachers utilize it to boost their course teachings on Black Washington history.
“It is a powerful feeling to know your own history,” Zachary Stocks, one of the app’s entry contributors, stated in a news release. “This project has the potential to become a vital resource for continued research and a model for the preservation of community stories.”
“Black Washington” has been in development since 2021, according to a Q&A with project manager Michael King that The News Tribune published in February.
The app’s conception formed when retired Rep. Eric Pettigrew introduced a Black history initiative to the state government. The historical society received funding from the Washington Legislature to finance the project in 2020, according to its news release. More than 80 people and organizations contributed to the 50 entries.
Phone users can download the app on iOS and Android devices. Computer users can access a desktop version on the historical society’s website.
