Through July 5, 2021

Stand Up Seattle: The Democracy Project

Following an election year like no other, Stand Up Seattle: The Democracy Project is an exploration of the power of self-government, engaging visitors in experiences that encourage them to take action now to create the change they want to see. Shaped by the evolving story of democracy in our region, and drawing on MOHAI’s extensive collection of historic artifacts, images, and oral histories, Stand Up Seattle: The Democracy Project highlights how direct participation sustains, expands, and reimagines a government of, by, and for the people. The exhibit includes rare artifacts from Seattle’s history of democracy, personal stories of democracy in action, and interactive experiences that put the power of democracy directly in the hands of visitors.

Presented by The Boeing Company. Additional generous support provided by Laird Norton Wealth Management, Maureen Frisch, The Estate of Patricia Denny, Office of Arts and Culture (Seattle), 4Culture, RealNetworks Foundation, and MOHAI Exhibits Fund.

Media support provided by KCTS9 and Crosscut.

Special thanks to the following Stand Up Seattle community partners: Black Heritage Society of Washington State, Converge Media, and University of Washington Center for the Study of the Pacific Northwest.

Available Now: Online Exhibit Preview

Get a peek at the upcoming exhibit with this digital companion experience!

Text “MOHAI” to 565-12 or click here to access the online exhibit.

Find the tools you need to participate in our democratic process and explore ways to affect the changes you want to see.
Experience inspirational stories of how others have impacted Washington State’s democracy.
Peruse historical images from the museum’s collections, and learn about our past through fun games and quizzes.

Phone numbers are not collected or stored by MOHAI or by our third-party vendor in any way.

Want to see more? Visit our online collection to see artifacts included in the Stand Up Seattle exhibit. Special thanks to the University of Washington Libraries Digital Collection for hosting MOHAI’s digital content and to the Institute of Museum and Library Services for supporting our digitization efforts.

Upcoming Events

Online

Saturday, March 13, 2021
4 pm

Democracy Dialogues: Legalizing Equity in the Marijuana Industry

Widespread excitement followed the legalization of marijuana in Washington State. Voters’ approval of Initiative 502 promised new business opportunities but left Black marijuana entrepreneurs behind. In response, the new House Bill 2870 created a Marijuana Social Equity Program to ensure that communities...

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Online

Tuesday, March 23, 2021
6:30 pm

Objects of Pride: Missing and Finding Community Connections

Stories bind communities together, revealing histories that lay the foundation for who we are, and where we are going. Within the LGBTQ+ community, experiences of belonging and exclusion are central to the search for connection, identity and acknowledgment of basic human rights....

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Stand Up Seattle: The Democracy Project

Many thanks to all the individuals who advised and participated in the development of the Stand Up Seattle: The Democracy Project exhibit.

Contributing content advisors include:

Amy Bhatt, PhD, Associate Professor of Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Hasaan A. Kirkland, MFA, O’Herron Endowed Distinguished Professor of Fine Art, Curator, Artist, Kairos Industry LLC, Seattle Central College, Seattle University

Joshua L. Reid (Snohomish), PhD, John Calhoun Smith Memorial Endowed Professor of History, University of Washington Center for the Study of the Pacific Northwest

Lorraine McConaghy, PhD, MOHAI Public Historian Emeritus

Special thanks to:

Amber Taylor and Lisa Pemberton, Puyallup Tribe of Indians
Cynthia Brothers
Estela Ortega and Dulce Gutierrez Vasquez, El Centro de la Raza
James Gregory, University of Washington
Jennifer Ott, Assistant Director, HistoryLink.org
Jessica Garcia
John Lamont, Seattle Public Library
Karen Besserman, Emerge WA
Kyle Thiessan, Office of the Code Reviser, Washington State Legislature
Lourdez Velasco
Makah Resource & Cultural Center
Maru Mora Villalpando and Andrea Marcos, La Resistencia
Meredith Sibley and Andrea Caupain, Byrd Barr Place
MOHAI Youth Advisors: Annabelle, Atul, Ethan, India, Jason, Julia, Karl, Soren, Sue, TK, Vance, and Ziah
National Archives and Records Administration
Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission
Nikkita Oliver
Omari Salisbury, Converge Media
Paulina Lopez, Duwamish River Clean Up Coalition
Rebeccah Maskin, King County Office of Performance Strategy and Budget
Reverend Harriett Walden, Mothers for Police Accountability
Seattle Public Library
Sierra Club and Fuse Washington
Stephanie Johnson-Toliver, Black Heritage Society of Washington State
Suquamish Museum
Tim Eyman for Governor campaign
Timothy Harris
TraeAnna Holiday, Africatown Community Land Trust
Washington State Archives
Washington State Library
Willard Bill, Jr. and Justice Bill
Zack Silk