Shafer Museum

History:

In 1891, a thirty-two year old Harvard graduate, Guy Waring, arrived in the Methow Valley, spotted a market in the handful of miners and ranchers living nearby, and opened Winthrop's first general store. After two years of success, the store burned and Waring was forced to move back east to recoup his losses.

Three years later he returned to rebuild his business, having enticed his wife to come with him by promising to build her a fine home. This carefully crafted log house, admiringly called "The Castle" by locals, is now the centerpiece of the Shafer Museum. 0wen Wister, author of The Virginian, once visited here, drawing some of his story from the area.

Except for the old log town hall, Waring owned every building on Winthrop's main street. Bankrupt in 1916, he again went east, leaving his stepson, Harry Greene, to live in this showplace home. When the Greenes left a few years later, it was used by the Episcopal church. In 1943, purchased by local merchant Simon Shafer the Winthrop landmark was made into a museum. Eventually turned over to the Okanogan County Historical Society, this project has been gradually improved and expanded.