The Orcas Island Historical Museums Board of Directors announces the promotion of Brittney Maruska to Museum Director. Maruska replaces Clark McAbee, who moved to California to support his wife Felicia in her new career.

“Brittney will be a valuable asset to the museum because she has the knowledge, skills, passion, and commitment to advance the goals of the museum and assure its success,” said Board President Jim Biddick.

Maruska has served in the position of Museum Administrative Assistant since May of 2016, where she has applied her many talents in the areas of fundraising, membership and communications. She comes to her new position with an MS in Arts Administration with a concentration in Museum Studies and a Graduate Certificate of Nonprofit Management, both from the University of Oregon.

Maruska is a native of Washington with ties to the island through her grandparents, who have a summer home at Obstruction Pass where she resides with her partner. Her work experience includes three years with The Kellen Company, where she served as an account associate with responsibility for education and meeting planning, board and committee support and communications for multiple non-profit associations. She also filled the position of General Manager for Harmony, a Colorado chorale, an all-inclusive Colorado chorus. Her background of non-profit management and passion for community and museums made her the ideal candidate to lead the museums.

Maruska’s plans for the museums include an emphasis on membership and programming through community collaborations. In the upcoming year she will oversee the planning of the new Agriculture Exhibit Shed and this summer’s exciting multimedia exhibit centered on the Orcas Voices oral history project that includes over 127 hours of personal stories.

The Orcas Island Historical Museums are unique in being the only object-based, interpretive heritage facility for the island, with a permanent collection comprised of approximately 6000 objects, paper documents and photographs. The Pioneer Museum is open in Eastsound during the winter months from 12-3, Wednesday through Saturday and from May through September, Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, noon to 3 p.m. Crow Valley School is open May through September, Friday and Saturday, noon to 4 p.m. Both museums are also open for tours by appointment at other times. The society office is open year around Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information call 376-4849 or www.orcasmuseums.org.