The Reserve: Cultural History

Bridging Environment, Arts, & Cultural History

The Reserve is home to the Upper Valley Museum at Leavenworth where area cultural history is illuminated and celebrated.

The history of the Reserve tracks with the history of Leavenworth, ranging from the pre-white American settlement era, when the area was an important fishery and home to the Wenatchi Tribe... to the mill town era, when the Lamb-Davis Lumber Company owned a mill located just above what is now Blackbird Island and built the Reserve's historic main building in 1903... to the orchard and railroad era of the town, when town banker RB Field and his family resided in this same building and raised champion Arabian horses at what was then called the Bent River Arabian Horse Ranch... to the Bavarian Village era of Leavenworth, when Elisabeth Saunders and her family operated a fine bed and breakfast in the building known as Haus Lorelei.

The historic home, now called Barn Beach Reserve's River Haus, has been brought up to current fire code and accessibility standards, and a new multipurpose, "green technology" learning center was built on the property. Other plans include interpretive trails where the public will be welcome to learn about nature, art, and the cultural history of the Leavenworth area.

 Barn Beach Reserve - Historical Resources