
EVERETT, JAN. 20: Joan Packard does it all. She has been volunteering at the Everett Museum of History for years and has picked up quite a few roles helping the museum. Nominated by Barbara George, the museum’s Executive Director, Packard is our January Hometown Hero.
Hometown Hero is a promotion from radio stations Everett’s Greatest Hits KRKO and Classic Country KXA. Each month the stations celebrates an individual making a difference in the community.
George said that Packard supports the museum as though she were an entire workforce, from handling marketing, administration, IT, and even transporting artifacts.
Packard currently serves as the Secretary Treasurer and is on the board. She also spends time applying for grants and raising funds for the museum.
“I don’t know what we would do without her. She’s an asset to the Everett Museum and to our community,” George wrote in her nomination.
The museum recently celebrated 70 years in Everett, beginning as a group of people who enjoyed collecting and learning about history. But for the majority of the museum’s life, there hasn’t been a consistent home.
The Everett Museum of History has been renovating the space at 2939 Colby Ave to hold and showcase the museum’s extensive collection.
They acquired the building before the COVID-19 Pandemic, dealing with multiple setbacks, Packard said.
Currently, historical items are scattered around the city in storage, slowly being moved to the building on Colby. Packard said that over the years, their dedicated storage places have closed forcing museum volunteers to continually relocate artifacts.
“We’ve got great volunteers it’s been a labor of love, and we are getting there,” Packard said.
The museum acquired the historic Van Valey house in 2022 from the city of Everett and has been using it as a house museum while hosting exhibits.
Packard said that their Colby location could be open in late 2026, depending on funding.
You can contribute to the museum by donating, becoming a member, volunteering, or donating to the collection.
Packard herself came to Everett from California in 1988. She has always had a love for history. Her grandmother was one of the earliest settlers in Mosier, Oregon. To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the town, she and 11 others portrayed their ancestors.
“I have always liked to make history come alive,” Packard said.
Her grandmother passed from tuberculosis at 32, so Packard got involved with the TB Voices Project, a nonprofit in Snohomish sharing stories of TB. Her connection to TB made her realize how much the disease impacted her family and childhood.
Packard is now retired and spends her time at her church and, of course, supporting the museum. She sees herself traveling more and learning the history of the places around her.
“All of those parts and pieces that went together to make us what we are now, I think it’s important, and I would hate for people to lose sight of it,” Packard said.
Hometown Hero is a promotion from radio stations Everett’s Greatest Hits KRKO and Classic Country KXA. Each month the stations celebrates an individual making a difference in the community and gives them a $100 Visa gift as a small token of appreciation. Presented by Eden Health. If you would like to nominate a Hometown Hero, see here.