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A New Art and Natural Sciences Discovery Center
Since the beginning of our organization we’ve had a vision for a permanent space that can be used as a meeting and exhibit venue for promoting our mission of sharing the Lower Grand Coulee experience through arts and science education, exhibits and presentations. This space would be publicly available to other organizations with similar needs and purposes such as local schools, creative district organizers, artists, vendors, and other organizations. The James Building was donated to the City by the William Beeks Foundation and William Beeks (a local part time resident) before he passed away around 2016. The building was in terrible condition, particularly the roof. The City initially entered into a temporary lease to the Friends of the Lower Grand Coulee to allow critical repairs to be made. We have a restoration and usage agreement with the City of Soap Lake and a long-term lease. Our first task was to replace the roof, a critical maintenance step. Without this work, the building would have been lost to disrepair. Fall 2024 - New walkway & patio!
Watch the Transformation
We're already making progress! Scroll through the slide show below to see improvements and early design concepts, or check out our video showing removal of a bee's nest. The James building "back in the day." |
Recent Developments
The James Building has proven to be a valuable organizational hub for community projects such as Winterfest, the Centennial Celebration, Smokiam Days, Suds 'N Sun, Moonlight Paddle, and more. It is also being used as an archive center for Brent Blake memorabilia and artworks, the Historical Society's informational collection, a window display for Ice Age Flood interpretive panels, great canoe race memorabilia, plus building materials and tools to be used for the improvements. The Rural Communities Design Initiative, the same organization that facilitated workshops for the downtown Soap Lake revitalization project, facilitated a public workshop for us in February. The outcomes of that process will include fresh design concepts, and information about what it will take to support a revitalized James Building. As soon as we have those concepts they will be shared! 
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Friends of the Lower Grand Coulee is an exempt organization as described in
Section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code; EIN 46-4201429
Section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code; EIN 46-4201429
